Anti-AIDS Gel Coming in 3-4 Years

[komodo]

GENEVA - The United Nations AIDS chief predicted Thursday that a vaginal gel that protects women from contracting HIV during intercourse could be ready in as little three to four years. With the successful development of a vaccine still nowhere in sight, UNAIDS chief Peter Piot said a gel designed to thwart the transmission of the AIDS virus during sex would be the next best thing.

"Where we have better hope is something at least as important, and that is a so-called microbicide," Piot said, adding there were currently about 15 HIV/AIDS microbicide products being tested around the world. "Conceptually, it's straightforward, whereas with the vaccine we still don't know where to go.

"We are, in the most optimistic scenario, I would say three years, four years away. Currently we are dealing with trials that deal with thousands and thousands of women."

The microbicide would come in the form of a gel or an ovule that's put in the vagina before intercourse and immediately kills the virus upon contact. Piot compared it to a contraceptive spermicide.

Researchers around the globe have been working on a vaccine since the discovery of the AIDS virus over 20 years ago. So far only one vaccine candidate has undergone a large-scale clinical trial, and results proved disappointing. Only two other candidate vaccines are in human trials right now, in Thailand and the United States, Piot said.

"We don't even know for a HIV/AIDS vaccine what are the elements in the immune response that protect us, what kind of antibodies should we try to stimulate," Piot said.

Nearly half the 39.4 million people infected with HIV worldwide are female. Three-quarters of all HIV-positive women live in sub-Saharan Africa. About 57 percent of the adults with HIV are women.

Women often have to rely on whether their male partner is faithful and uses a condom, Piot said. Abstinence is often not an option, especially in marriage, and negotiating the use of a condom within any relationship in any culture is difficult.

"Over half of all new infections today occur in women," Piot said. "Because of this increasing feminization of the epidemic we need ways to protect women and ways that are under the control of women, preferably one a male partner wouldn't even know the woman is using.

"Just as the contraceptive pill is really what made a difference in terms of contraception and family planning, a product like (a microbicide) — if it were not expensive, could be bought over the counter, didn't need to be kept in a fridge, etc. — could make a big difference for women's lives in the AIDS epidemic."

On another matter Piot warned that India's new patent law prohibiting domestic drug companies from making low-cost copies of expensive Western medicines would cause "big problems" in the future.

The changes in patent rights enhance the country's participation in global trade but requires it to enforce stricter patent rules for its pharmaceutical industry.

"It's not a problem for products already being used in first line treatment today. It's about the future," Piot said. "Indian companies will not be allowed under that new law to copy products still under patent.

"And we will continuously need new anti-retroviral drugs because after some time many people develop resistance to existing treatments, and if you can't switch to a new, effective medicine, you die."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in688246.shtml

Whatcha guys think?

[witeshark]

Interesting. Time will tell...

[Hoppy]

it will cost too much for it to be a practical application in places where its needed most. ( africa) and even if it was cheap enough it wont get used. condoms ( the current cheap anticeptive, did i spell that right?, is only now seeing anything resembleing noticable use)

[RealBmw 02]

I think it is a start in the right direction. I think many women would love to be able to ensure that they are protected during sex. Probably way to often a guy will just tell a girl that he put on the condom when in fact he really didn't. And the chick really has no way of controling the situation.

But as hoppy said, it will most likely be too expensive in the places that need it most. Fortunately if it did work, it would probably really help the AIDS percentage in the US and Europe.

[Chris]

this may sound harsh, but i honestly think that people who are HIV postive and have AIDS should abstain from sex with non infected partners and should not have kids. I think the only reason we're ever going to really get rid of it to breed it out of the human race.

[catalyst]

Originally Posted by chrisdoesntknow

this may sound harsh, but i honestly think that people who are HIV postive and have AIDS should abstain from sex with non infected partners and should not have kids. I think the only reason we're ever going to really get rid of it to breed it out of the human race.

Isnt that kind of a given? not to have kids or fuck after you've become HIV positive?

Without the help of mass genocide i dont think there is any plausable way to breed a disease out of a race.. so thats kind of out of the question.

I think there will most likely be a cure eventually.. idk.

[witeshark]

I don't think it will work, but I don't wanna see an argument start here

[Hoppy]

oh you want an arguement? im on it

i do believe that people infected with aids should be rounded up and killed. your gunna die anyway. in some cases people just dont care. drugs, rape, un informed un protected sex further spread this plauge. besides killing off all the infected might help to ease the food shortages and would create and open up jobs leading to economic growth!


( mainly said to start a debate/ arguement/ fist fight... you know, what evers easiest)

[catalyst]

the main reason it spreads is cause of people that dont even kno they got it.. so there really is no way to completely stop it unless u test every human being on the planet.. which is impossible.

[Chris]

believe it or not, i know more pregnant couples who are infected than those without. and their ages range from just out of HS to well over 40. some people just don't care; they want a kid no matter what it takes.

[delmarco]

Komodo if there ever was an award for the wierdest and most random Thread Starter you'd be giving a thank you speech right now.