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Despite their initial promise, topical microbicides have yet to prove effective for HIV prevention. This year, two intravaginal gels — cellulose sulfate and Carraguard — were officially added to the list of failed compounds.
Cellulose sulfate was tested in a phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among nearly 1400 women in Africa and India. The trial was halted in early 2007 after preliminary results suggested that cellulose sulfate might enhance HIV acquisition (AIDS Clin Care Feb 12 2007). In the final analysis, however, infection rates did not differ significantly between the cellulose-sulfate and placebo groups (AIDS Clin Care Jul 30 2008). Subsequent in vitro studies of cellulose sulfate revealed that this compound inhibits HIV…