Hiv-hope news updates

The Science blog had carried this piece recently, HIV Mortality in India Drops with Introduction of Generic Antiretroviral Therapy. The survival rate of HIV-infected patients in India has risen in response to a 20-fold drop in the price of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The piece ends with this very important point. Making HIV-infected people aware of affordable treatment options is an important additional step toward curbing the spread of a deadly disease in a resource-poor country. True, very true.

Mzansi Afrika reports on clinical trials on the new anti-HIV gel for women (link through global voices). From the report – the trials will begin in South Africa and Uganda this week, and then extend into Tanzania and Zambia later in the year. Similar trials are being conducted in Australia by a research group.

The report also mentions, In India as well, in Tamil Nadu, similar trials are being conducted on a product called Praneem. Praneem is essentially a microbicide. These microbicides will enable women to negotiate condom use or to abandon partners who put them at risk and would also help avoid unwanted pregnancies, according to experts. With such products coming up, women empowerment will acquire new meaning in Tamil Nadu in a few months’ time when the third phase of the clinical trials for at least three candidate microbicides will begin. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a premier research institution, is already studying a product called “Praneem”.

Anyone heard more about Praneem?