“Anti-H.I.V. Trial in Africa Canceled Over Failure to Prevent Infection” by Donald G. McNeil Jr.
-Amber Kocher
A trial in Africa that was trying to prevent HIV infections in women was cancelled due to failure. This study was a trial of a microbicide gel that women used vaginally to protect them against the virus, but still allowed them to get pregnant. This trial was the second one, and it succeeded what was reported as a successful first trial. Researchers were disappointed in this trials failure because of the good results they had from the first one. This gel was being developed so that women who feared rejection and violence from there partners (if asked to use a condom) could use it secretly. The original study showed that it “protected 39% of the women who used it and that those who used it most regularly reduced their chances of infection by 54%”. The second trial was cancelled because it showed that the drug was safe but it was not effective, and it ethically required the cancellation to prevent any further infections in the trial patients. Data and answers for why the trial failed will not be clear until 2012 because the trial is still blind and the placebo and actual drug patients won’t be revealed until that time.
This failure of this trial is hard hitting because researchers and organizations are working on things like this to help solve social and health problems in places like Africa where the people don’t have access to proper health care and treatment. HIV and AIDS is such a huge problem in the world, and its extremely concentrated in the continent of Africa, so this study failing is quite a setback. The development of the microbicide gel is a good step in the right direction, and hopefully the research and the data will unveil what went wrong, and researchers will be able to perfect it and try again. With cultures and practices being different, and condoms and birth control not always an option, developing something that these women can use safely and effectively is something that needs to continue to have attention.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/health/research/anti-hiv-gel-trial-is-canceled-in-africa.html?ref=health
12 comments:
I agree that sexual safety in Africa is a topic that doesn't need to keep being put on the back burner. These types of trials are beneficial, even if the treatments don't always succeed. The main victory at this point is the trials that researchers have been able to conduct. The opportunity for research to be done is what will one day lead to a cure for the rampage of STIs and HIV/AIDS.
Like Lindsey said, the research that was able to be done is great, but knowing that the trial wasn't successful was quite a set back. It is sad to see these women not only having to deal with attempting to protecting themselves from HIV/AIDs but also from their partners who are giving them this disease.
Wow had this study been successful it would have been outstanding. First off it is a great idea therefore scientists should not give up but keep at it so that it is 100% affective. This would have helped so many people and it is sad that it didn't go according to plan. but after a solution like this has been invented and proven effective the next step is to definitely make it affordable to those in Africa
Like Jasma says, a 100% success rate would be amazing. But that seems unlikely in the next few years, but even a 60-70% chance to prevent infection would greatly reduce infections worldwide.
I thought this blog was very interesting and amazing! I knew the research wouldn't be 100% but had it been that would have been so great especially for African countries, such as South Africa who has a 17.8% HIV/AIDs prevalence rate. This would definitely help reduce infections. As long as they keep working on this idea I'm sure it can help and become pretty effective
I definitely that they should continue to help these women because HIV/AIDS is such a terrible epidemic. I'm glad that they are actually trying to come up with new ways to protect these women that want help and hopefully they will continue to do so. It is sad to find out that the second trial did not work but once everything is cleared up I truly hope they find better ways of helping.
This is a great break through for researchers. Eventually they will find something that will work and this will help many future generations to come as well as millions of people today. In Africa alone this epidemic widespread. Any changes that can be made to improve this will be great for their people.
The trial of microbicide gel for women was very smart and informative. I am glad I read this blog because I will know be waiting for the result in 2012. I think if this gel is truly helping women in Africa it can affect the health treatment among the people. With an area that has many deaths lead from the virus HIV, I agree that this is a right step towards health care treatment.
Im glad they are trying to cure AIDS but you would thnk they would come up wth a better way than actually testing ths on humans. I believe a constant testing on humans would only spread this disease. I am glad they stop the testing but I believe it is extremely important to solve ths problem because it is one of the bggest global killers but testing on human life is not the best idea
Sexual Safety is one of the biggest issues in Africa. But the idea that these scientist have is a good one and they should continue to pursue it
Even though the trial wasn't 100% it was still somewhat successful. Since it's safe why not use that until they find something better. At least 39% of women will be helped instead of 0. Something is better than nothing in this case.
This research that they gathered from this trial is going to be so important for the future. It's sad though that the second leg of the trial had to be cancelled.
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