Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
Disappointment as HIV microbicide trials halted
1st Feb 2007
The world of HIV infection prevention is coming to terms with the fact that one of its most advanced microbicide products appears to have failed in Phase III trials. US company Polydex has announced that Ushercell, its cellulose sulfate-based gel, which was in advanced clinical studies in a number of developing countries to prevent HIV transmission to women, actually appeared to increase the risk of HIV infection. Although the results are preliminary, the trials have been stopped while further evaluation is undertaken.
Microbicides are topically-applied agents that can potentially prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. These are of huge significance, particularly in the developing world, as they could allow women to protect themselves against infection independent of their partner's actions. R&D into such preventative drugs has historically been a poor relation to that into therapeutics, but having recently received boosts from the formation of an international coalition to co-ordinate development, and several large funding grants from NGOs, the field looks set to expand. This setback leaves drugs such as Indevus' PRO-2000 and the Population Council's Carraguard leading a still fairly sparse field.
The International AIDS Society was putting a brave face on the news, with Its President Dr Pedro Cahn commenting that it would "strengthen future microbicide research and increase our knowledge of how such compounds work". But he added that the importance of developing a safe and effective microbicide could not be understated.
