Transcript of: Study: Gel a 'game changer' in HIV prevention
BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:
Tonight we have the results of some major research that could help millions of
women
around the world. It concerns a gel that
women
can use themselves to protect against infection from the virus that causes
AIDS
. And there's a broader meaning to this story. This news comes from an international
AIDS
conference, and our chief science correspondent
Robert Bazell
has details.
ROBERT BAZELL reporting:
The trial was conducted in
South Africa
, which has 5.7 of the world's 33 million people infected with
HIV
, the virus that causes
AIDS
. The majority of new cases in
South African
are among heterosexual
women
. The study found that a vaginal gel containing an anti-
AIDS
medication inserted with a simple applicator cut the infection rate among
women
by 39 percent. Researchers wish the effectiveness rate was 100 percent, but they believe that a different combination of drugs might do an even better job in the future, and even at this rate the gel has the potential to save millions of
women
from infection with the
AIDS virus
.
Dr. WARD CATES (Family Health International):
It represents a major victory for the field of
HIV
prevention research.
BAZELL:
The two-year trial on almost 900
women
also found that the gel cut the rate of infections with genital herpes by 51 percent, and herpes infections can increase the risk for future infections with the
AIDS virus
. The drug called
Tenofovir
, used in this gel, is usually a pill for people with
AIDS
. The maker,
Gilead Sciences
, donated it for the trial and promised to make it available free of royalties for use as a gel in poor nations, meaning this new prevention could be very inexpensive. These results are critically important because
for the first time
they give
women
control. A gel provides
women
a means to protect themselves against infection. All too often men do not take precautions, and that,
Brian
, is a reason why this horrendous plague continues to grow.
WILLIAMS:
And a big breakthrough today, you're right. Bob Bazell, as
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