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A large-scale HIV prevention trial,
called Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE),
comprised of African women has produced disappointing results; however, the
results may be based more on the behavior rather than the prevention methods
utilized in the study. VOICE trial results were announced at the 20th
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta.
Executive Director Mitchell Warren
of AVAC, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS advocacy group, stated that the study centered on
PrEP— preexposure prophylaxis—and examined three different options to help
African women prevent HIV infection. VOICE was funded by the US National
Institutes of Health and was conducted with more than 5,000 women in Zimbabwe,
South Africa, and Uganda. The women used the following prevention methods: a
daily oral dose of tenofovir, a daily oral dose of a combination pill known as
Truvada, and a daily 1-percent vaginal tenofovir gel. These methods previously
had been shown to provide protection, but in the VOICE trial, the results were
disappointing. Warren declared that “They were disappointing, and pivotal
studies are not just ones that tell us the answers we want. A pivotal study is
one to help give us answers to the questions we have. And this study showed
that none of the three study products provided additional protection. They were
safe, but not effective.” He said that the products will only succeed if they
are used as prescribed.
Warren noted that even though the
women were dedicated to the trial and returned to the clinic every month, they
did not actually use the products, further saying that behavior is more
important than bio-medicine. Even though the daily pill and daily vaginal gel
were convenient, the study participants did not respond. Warren declared one of
the ideas the trial provided was that “while women may be at risk of HIV, they
may not perceive themselves on a daily basis to be at risk.” Warren said that
the African women in the study were concerned about contraception, so future
research could involve using birth control pills with an antiretroviral drug.
Warren stated that the VOICE study conveys to researchers the importance of
listening to what women say and giving them something that they will use.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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