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International trials on HIV prevention gel begin

    JOHANNESBURG

    South African and US volunteers enrolled this week in trials to determine the safety and efficacy of two candidate microbicides for preventing HIV in women.

    This is the first trial of this magnitude to be conducted by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), solely for the benefit of women.

    NIAID director Dr Anthony Fauci said in a statement, "If effective, microbicides would be a valuable woman-controlled means of slowing the pace of the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

    Fauci also noted that a successful microbicide was vital, as the majority of new female HIV cases resulted from heterosexual intercourse, and most women were not able to negotiate the use of condoms.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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