General

South Africa wants to roll out HIV-fighting gel

Gel has yet to be officially licensed by regulators

South Africa is considering introducing a vaginal gel that offers protection against HIV for women, although it has yet to be officially approved by drug regulators, Reuters reports. In South Africa, 1,000 people die from AIDS-related illnesses every day, and the health ministry declared its intention to act on the gel’s early success. A microbicide, it contains a prescription drug that can sharply reduce HIV infections in women when used before and after sex. No product is available yet, but making the gel and applicators is expected to be cheap and easy. In the trial, the gel reduced HIV infections in women by 39 per cent over two and a half years.

Reuters

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