A gel containing a Gilead Sciences drug can sharply reduce HIV infections in women. This is the first time such an approach has protected against sexual transmission of the virus. The findings, presented at an international AIDS conference in Vienna, were described as ‘groundbreaking’ by the World Health Organisation.
The treatment offers women a way to protect themselves. In Africa, where most of the world’s 33 million HIV cases exist, most new cases are in young women infected by older men. And, even more so, any potential HIV treatment or prevention needs to be simple, efficient and inexpensive. While the product has a long way to go, this is the most promising news on HIV prevention in years.
