No Major Breakthroughs in Biomedical Prevention

Studies presented at CROI 2013 remind us that, as prevention goes biological, human behavior still determines outcomes.

VOICE (MTN 003) was a five-arm, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIB trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy of oral tenofovir, oral tenofovir plus FTC, and tenofovir 1% vaginal gel (TFV) used daily to prevent sexual transmission of HIV in women. The trial began in September 2009 and enrolled 5029 sexually active women (median age, 25; 51% younger than 25; 21% married) at 15 sites in South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. At baseline, 17% of participants reported anal sex, and 85% reported vaginal sex with condoms. In 2011, the vaginal gel and oral tenofovir arms were stopped afte…