http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Advanced_trials_of_microbicide_to_check_AIDS_in_women_fail/articleshow/2793843.cms

In a fresh setback to the world's search for a microbicide, Carraguard, the vaginal cream designed to protect women from the AIDS virus and the first to make it through late-stage testing, has failed.

In large-scale phase III clinical trials for the past three years, the microbicide, produced by the Population Council, was unable to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus in women. The gel was, however, found to be safe for long-term vaginal use.

The trial ran from March 2004 to March 2007 at three sites in South Africa among 6,262 women. Half of the volunteers were given the Carraguard gel and condoms, while the other half were given a placebo gel and condoms. There were 134 new infections in the Carraguard group and 151 new infections in the placebo group.

The setback comes just a week before India hosts Microbicides 2008, the biannual international conference to discuss the latest developments in microbicides. This is the first time that the meeting would be held in the Asian region.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Kamini Walia from ICMR's epidimeology and communicable diseases division said, "This is a serious setback. The Council was working on its development over the past two decades. Contrary to earlier candidate microbicides, this one did not cause inflammation in women and was safe. However, it failed to stop HIV transmission."

"We are disappointed that this trial did not show Carraguard to be effective, nonetheless, the completion of this trial is a milestone in HIV prevention research," said Population Council president Peter Donaldson.