New gel may prevent AIDS

New gel may prevent AIDS
Tuesday 23 March 2004

British scientists are planning large-scale human trials of two new gels designed to prevent men and women from being infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

The gels, or microbicides, act like an invisible condom and could offer added protection against the virus that has infected 40 million people worldwide.

AIDS experts estimate that even a partially effective microbicide could prevent 2.5 million deaths from AIDS over three years.

"We desperately need new methods to prevent HIV transmission in the face of rising prevalence of infection globally," said Professor Jonathan Weber, of Imperial College London, who is working on the project.

Condoms are the best method to prevent HIV infection but not everyone uses them. Microbicides would allow women, who account for half of new HIV infections worldwide, to protect themselves if their partners do not use condoms.

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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CC7D4762-F730-44C3-885C-A45FA493806D.htm

that's very interesting.