Positive Feedback From Anti-HIV Gel Research. 2/10/10
The Tenofovir gel is effective in preventing Aids infection when applied within the female genital tract.
By Kudzai Chinhangwa
2 October 2010
The success of tests into the effectiveness of anti-HIV gels to be used by women before engaging in sex has presented Zimbabwe with another chance of further reducing the rapid transmission of the virus.
According to various presentations made at a feedback workshop organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the National Aids Council (NAC) on Friday, the research on the gels has brought a lot of hope.
One of the gels is based on the anti-retroviral (ARV) drug Tenofovir and recent research carried out in South Africa showed that it reduces transmission of Aids to women if used before sex.
"If you give women something they can control you achieve better results," said Owen Mugurungi, the coordinator of Aids and Tuberculosis programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
"Although the microbicide is not yet available for use, there is a whole lot of research being carried out to ensure that it soon becomes more effective and safe for use.
Interestingly for Zimbabwe, a similar research project is being carried out in Chitungwiza with the advantage that it incorporates not only the gel form of Tenofovir but the tablet as well.
Zimbabwe Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Global Campaign for Microbicides Prevention research fellow Munyaradzi Chimwara is upbeat about the benefits that the drug will provide.
"We are where we were not yesterday and the coming of such a potent microbicide is clear evidence that we are getting somewhere," Chimwara said. "Women will be empowered because culturally they have not been allowed to negotiate issues of sex.
"We hope that the project should come out with more results in three years time. "He also explained that before clinical trials were done on women, the drug in question goes through a series of other sub-tests reducing the incidence of side effects.
The Tenofovir gel is effective in preventing Aids infection when applied within the female genital tract. It also reduces the risk of infection by genital herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2).
The application of the drug is that it is to be used at least 12 hours before sex and after sex within 12 hours. A research study was carried out in rural Vulindlela in South Africa with women who were sexually active and HIV negative. The study was implemented under the sponsorship of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa).
The project screened 2 160 women and some were excluded either because they were HIV positive or because they were not sexually active for various reasons.
Researchers feared these factors could compromise research results. Mugurungu also pointed out that the gel has been proved to be effective as a therapeutic agent, it has a good safety profile and is effective in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.
It also has a very slow systemic absorption, which means it has lower side effects. "The number of HIV infections was 38 after use of Tenofovir while those who used placebo were at 60. "Generally, infection rates in using Tenofovir were remarkably lower than in the case of those who used placebo," Mugurungu said.
"The Tenofovir gel was proof of a concept that the use of ARVs with microbicides can reduce HIV infection. "The extent is 39%, certainly areas that can be improved to make this an effective intervention."
Participants at the workshop learnt that women who used the Tenofovir gel consistently, classified as high adherers, experienced 54% effectiveness in terms of HIV prevention and 28% for low adherers.