BY SAM BANDA JNR IN ROME, ITALY

If all goes according to plan, women in Africa stand to benefit from microbicides which are substances that could be used in the rectum to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during sex once rolled out.

However, the gathering during a session From Proof to Delivery: Scaling UP HIV Prevention for women:Delivering the First Microbicide in Africa, at the ongoing sixth International Aids Society conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome, Italy, said there was need for more research before this programme is rolled out in the continent.

Many were of the view that several prevention measures are coming up citing the introduction of female condoms but its usage has not be that effective.

A snap survey conducted in South Africa, interviewing men and women on microbicides also referred to as tenofovir gel(TFV-gel), showed that many were favouring it saying, it would help protect both men and women from contracting the HIV virus in the absence of condoms.

The trial of one percent tenofovir gel, is said to reduce women’s risk of acquiring HIV from their male sexual partners by an estimated 39 percent overall and that it was the first proof of concept that a microbicide can reduce women’s risk of HIV via sex.

A press release from Conrad says the firm and the South African government’s Technology Innovation Agency(TIA) last month announced a licence agreement that grants TIA, the rights to manufacture and distribute Tenofovir1% gel in Africa.

TIA will turn set up a joint venture for the manufacturing and distribution of the gel in South Africa and other licensed territory, which includes the African continent.

The gel will be registered, manufactured and distributed by ProPreven, a joint venture involving TIA, Cipla Medpro and Ithemba Pharmaceuticals.

Conrad Executive Director Henry Gabelnick said:

“Although confirmatory results are necessary to secure regulatory approval, this license agreement creates a process to move approval and access forward. It’s important to prepare for success in order to get this prevention tool to women who need it the most, as soon as possible.”

According to the press release, women who used Tenofovir1% gel in a South African study called CAPRISA 004 had 39 precent fewer HIV infections and 51 percent fewer genital herpes infections compared to women who used a placebo gel.

Conrad which was established in 1986 and is a division of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, is spearheading regulatory work toward registration in US, South Africa and Europe.