A Pill a Day Could Keep HIV Away

Massive 15,000-person trial will test drug's effectiveness

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2008 7:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – With 2.7 million people contracting HIV every year, the race is on to test the efficacy of a daily pill meant to prevent the virus, the New York Times reports. After recent unimpressive results in tests of vaccines and microbicides, the PrEP drugs are now some scientists’ leading hope for stopping infection before it starts.

More than 15,000 subjects will participate in the tests, including people from Africa, South America, Asia, and the United States. And there’s no time to lose, said a researcher. “We cannot wait for the study results to begin to prepare for the optimal use and delivery of PrEP,” he noted. We should “make real plans for making PrEP available to those who can benefit from it, as quickly and safely as possible."

Keren Dunaway-Gonzalez, 12, who is HIV-positive, delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, Sunday Aug. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Leticia Sanchez, 34, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2003, is comforted by her sister Elizabeth at a hospital in Managua, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Children attend a service at the Barcelona Baptist Church Center, which cares for children by affected AIDS, near Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, March. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AIDS • HIV • infection • drug trials • AIDS prevention

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

AIDS Drugs Slash Risk of Getting HIV in First Place

Pair of studies show minimum 60% drop in infection rate

HIV-Testing Program Finds 18K New Cases

But more than 200K have infection without knowing it

Study Yields Breakthrough in AIDS Treatment

Taking antiretroviral drugs early slashes risk of spreading disease

In AIDS Battle, US Victims Take Back Seat

Time to wake up to needs of at-risk Americans

Bush: AIDS Fight in Africa Is American Way

We've taken big strides, but the fight's not over

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