AIDS gel ineffective in Africa

London, 14 Dec-(ANA)-U.S. drug firm Endo Pharmaceuticals' gel designed to prevent infection with the AIDS virus has proved ineffective in trials in Africa, Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC) has said.

A large international trial of vaginal microbicide Pro 2000 in more than 9,000 women in four African countries found no evidence that it reduces the risk of HIV infection.

The result is a setback for the specialty drugmaker, whose shares were hit earlier in the month when U.S. health regulators declined to approve its Aveed drug for low testosterone.

To date, no gel microbicide has been shown to work against HIV infection and this trial "showed conclusively that Pro 2000 gel was of no added benefit", the MRC said in a statement.

It said this would end scientific speculation about its clinical importance. (ANA)

FA/ANA/14 December 2009---