Clinical trial of microbicide targeted at HIV infection flops, scientists say

Researchers say that the first anti-microbial gel targeted at HIV infection has proven ineffective in clinical trials. The anti-microbial agent, Carraguard, a microbicide produced by the Population Council that had spent three years in large-scale “Phase 3″ trials, was unable to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus, the scientists said.

The trial ran for three years at three sites in South Africa among 6,262 women, with standard scientific protocols and protections. In the Carraguard group, 134 new HIV infections occurred, slightly fewer than the 151 in the placebo group. by Gene Koprowski