WWW- Viread (tenofovir), taken daily in the form of a pill, looks promising as a safe and effective HIV prevention drug, according to a new trial carried out in Africa. The clinical trial found that fewer people taking Viread became infected with HIV when compared to those who received a placebo.

Even though the numbers who became infected in both the placebo and Viread groups were too few to make a compelling comparison, researchers said the results are extremely encouraging. If further trials confirm the drugs effectiveness, Viread could become a powerful weapon against the global spread of HIV/AIDS.

The fight against AIDS/HIV has come from several fronts, from promoting condom use, abstaining from sex altogether, using gels, to making available existing drug treatments to more patients. Most health experts agree that a vaccine would be the greatest weapon to stop the spread. Unfortunately, there isn’t one yet. Meanwhile, 5 million people become infected with the virus each year.

Viread is currently used to treat patients who have AIDS. Animal trials have indicated that the drug may have a role to play in preventing infection – stopping the virus from infecting the body in the first place.

This latest trial was carried out in Africa by Family Health International with 859 women. Many of the women were prostitutes. None of them were HIV positive at the beginning of the trial. They were randomly divided into two groups – 427 participants received the real drug while the other 432 got a placebo. They all received sexual health counseling and were given condoms.

The drug was found to be safe. Six months later 2 women from the Viread group became infected with HIV, compared to 6 women in the placebo group. The researchers stressed that although the results are very encouraging, it would be irresponsible to draw concrete conclusions from such small numbers.

Further studies are underway and planned for various parts of the world, some of which will be publishing results at the end of next year.

By providing the women in the placebo group with counseling and free condoms, the researchers explained that this group had 50% fewer infections than would normally have been the case.