HIV prevention researchers to compare common ARV as a pill and vaginal gel in unique study

EUREKALERT Contact: Lisa Rossi rossil@upmc.edu Getting inside the cells and minds of women: Trial looks at drug absorption and adherence of different formulations of tenofovir PITTSBURGH, July 9 , 2008 In battle with an epidemic that has outpaced nearly all efforts to contain it, researchers are turning to strategies centered on the same antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that have been used successfully to treat HIV in hopes they will be as effective a stronghold for preventing the virus. For women, who make up nearly half of the 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, the ARV tenofovir has particular promise because it can be formulated as either an oral tablet or a vaginal gel to be used daily. But ARV-based prevention approaches are not without scientific and practical challenges. The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is... [read full story]