Gel found ineffective at preventing Aids

In a massive blow to HIV research, the first anti-Aids vaginal gel to be developed and make it to human testing has been found to be ineffective against preventing the spread of infection, disappointed researchers have announced.

Carruguard, a microbicide that has been in advanced clinical trials was unable to prevent transmission of the Aids virus, although it was found to be safe for long-term use, something the scientists said was promising for future research.

The microbide contains carregeenan, a compound found in seaweed and used widely in the food and cosmetics injury as a thickening agent. Lab and early animal tests suggested that it may prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

In total, 6,202 women from South Africa were given Carraguard or a placebo gel, all receiving safe-sex counseling and condoms as well. By the end of the study, there were 134 new HIV infections among the Carraguard group, comparable to the 151 among the fake gel users.

It was also revealed that women only used the gels 44 per cent of the time, with some hardly using it at all. Some 33.2 million people around the world are living with Aids or the HIV virus that causes it, according to the UN agency UNAids.

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