AFRICA: UN says anti-AIDS gel for women not far off

JOHANNESBURG, 15 Apr 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - A vaginal gel that protects women from contracting HIV could be ready in as little three to four years, a senior UN official predicted on Thursday.

Noting that the successful development of an HIV vaccine was still nowhere in sight, UNAIDS chief Peter Piot said research on an effective microbicidal gel was in the most optimistic scenario, with trials already being conducted on thousands of women globally.

"Where we have better hope is something at least as important, and that is a so-called microbicide. Conceptually, it's straightforward, whereas with the vaccine we still don't know where to go," The Associated Press quoted Piot as saying.

At least 15 gels are currently being tested around the world, and the UK recently pledged almost US $45 million towards trials in four months' time in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa.

[ENDS]