Study shows
microbicide prevents HIV and herpes

The first small-scale human study of the experimental microbicide PRO 2000, developed by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, shows that the compound is highly effective in preventing both HIV and herpes infections, researchers report in the January 1 edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The researchers tested the compound in 20 HIV-negative women, half of whom were given a gel containing a 0.5% concentration of PRO 2000 and the other half a placebo. Vaginal cell samples taken from the women and then exposed to HIV showed that PRO 2000 inhibited HIV infection at least 1,000-fold. The compound also significantly reduced herpes infection risk, the researchers report.

The study was the first to gauge the effectiveness of PRO 2000 after application in humans, reports AIDSmap.com. Lab and animal tests have shown that the compound is highly effective in preventing HIV infections. PRO 2000 works by binding to the surface of HIV and preventing it from being able to latch on to immune system cells and infect them.

Although PRO 2000--and other microbicide products currently in development at other companies--has been tested primarily among heterosexual women, many researchers believe the compounds also may be effective in helping to reduce HIV infections among sexually active gay men.

Additional studies of PRO 2000 are planned. (Advocate.com)