An Australian company has been approved to begin human trials for an anti-HIV/AIDS gel, VivaGel. Animal trials have shown that a single application of VivaGel is 100 percent effective against the monkey version of HIV as well as genital herpes and chlamydia.
The gel is targeted towards women, particularly poorer women in developing countries. The hope is that women will have more control over HIV prevention. According to CNN, the Rockefeller Foundation estimates that 2.5 million lives could be saved over three years if this product was available.
The human trial involving 12 groups of women is expected to begin at the end of the year.
