Viread-HIV Prevention Drug?

Posted by Bethina Abrahams Aug 12, 2006

As reported in Medical News Today, a new study has come out which suggests that viread (tenofovir)may be effective as a preventive measure against contracting HIV. The study was done by the Family Health International in Africa and followed 859 women for six months. The article noted that many of these women were prostitutes and were HIV-negative at the onset of the study. At the end of the six months, six women of the placebo group and two women of the treatment group had contracted the HIV virus.

Although the researchers seem to think that these results are encouraging, the differences between the two groups are really too small to be of consequence. The focus should remain on helping people to become better informed and on giving people the resources that will make it possible to protect themselves.