Vaginal Ring Protects Monkeys Against AIDS Virus, Study Shows

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-05/vaginal-ring-protects-monkeys-against-aids-virus-study-shows.html

A vaginal ring that emits an HIV- fighting drug protected monkeys from getting a version of the AIDS-causing virus, according to a study that suggests the same approach may help women whose partners won’t wear condoms.

Macaques that received the drug-laced rings were 83 percent less likely to become infected with simian HIV than those that got placebo rings, researchers from the New York-based Population Council wrote in a study published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Scientists have been trying to develop tools for women that would reduce the risk of contracting HIV. While a 2010 study of a vaginal gel showed it prevented infections in a large trial in Africa, researchers stopped a similar trial in November because it wasn’t working, possibly because the women weren’t using the gel often enough. Rings, similar to those now used for contraception, may avert that problem.

“This proof-of-concept study confirms that the investment in vaginal rings as a delivery system for HIV prevention is paying off,” Naomi Rutenberg, vice president and director of the Population Council’s HIV and AIDS program, said in a statement.

[Ian David]

1. If you like then you better put a ring on it. n/t

[xchrom]

2. probably the first time miss beyonce makes an appearance in the health group