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 07 September 2008 02:20 BST

New treatment 'reduces HIV levels in blood'

Thursday, 22 Feb 2007 08:29
Anti-Aids experiments have so far failed to find a cure
A new anti-herpes treatment has been found to reduce the levels of HIV in the blood of women who have both diseases.

The results of the tests have been published in today's New England Journal of Medicine and have caused many experts to call for the "exciting trial findings" to be ranked highly on the international HIV prevention research agenda.

The study also found that genital secretions are considerably reduced by the vaccine.

Lead author Dr Nicolas Nagot, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), explained: "Behavioural interventions are not always successful, as knowledge does not necessarily translate into sexual behaviour change.

"Therefore, innovative methods that target the biological susceptibility of individuals to acquire or transmit HIV are also required."

Dr Nagot described the results of the trial as "striking", noting that "the effects appeared to gradually increase over the three-month follow-up period, with no sign of abating".

Since HIV first rose to prominence in the 1980s as a sexually-transmitted disease, scientists have searched, so far in vain, for a cure.

However, Gareth Thomas, the UK minister for international development, whose department has provided supplementary funding for the research, said: "These exciting initial findings demonstrate why research into reducing HIV/Aids transmission is such a vital element of the fight against the disease.

"The UK government has pledged to spend £1.5 billion tackling HIV/Aids in developing countries between 2005 and 2008. We will follow the next stages of this research with interest."
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