Anti-HIV Measures get a Major Thrust

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation backed by the founder Billionaire of Microsoft Bill Gates has pledged 100 million dollars for further research into the development of VAGINAL GELS and similar products which would help dramatically CUT HIV INFECTION rates. This amount is donated to the Maryland based International partnership for Microbicides (IPM) which has successfully conducted clinical trails of one such product. The development of this product has brought in high hopes that it, whether in the form of gels/creams or films could block or kill pathogens and thereby save millions of lives.

IPM announced that it would use the money to further the clinical trials. by initiating at least 10 more clinical studies.

According to an estimate by World Health Organization, more than 33 million people were living with the dreaded disease by the end of 2007 out of which at least two million people died. Two thirds of the above live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Gel which has been designated as PRO2000  has proved that  effective microbicides are a reality. In the phase 3, 9400 women from Africa have participated, the , 2009results of which are expected by August, 2009.