Anti-AIDS vaccines hold promise

Mexico City -- AIDS experts meeting in Mexico City said anti-retroviral drugs being tested for HIV prevention are among the most promising AIDS interventions in development.

The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition said clinical trials are currently planned or under way in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America to test the safety and efficacy of a vaccine that could be given to those who test negative for human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS. Initial results expected as early as next year from the PrEP -- pre-exposure prophylaxis -- research.

The report, released Sunday at the XVII International Conference on AIDS in Mexico City, said AIDS advocates and communities affected by HIV "need to understand PrEP and its implications for the AIDS advocacy and global health agendas."

Researcher Pedro Goicochea said AIDS advocates and governments "cannot wait for the study results to begin to prepare for the optimal use and delivery of PrEP."

"Instead, we should look ahead to consider all of the possible outcomes of these trials and make real plans for making PrEP available to those who can benefit from it, as quickly and safely as possible if it is proven effective."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.