New Studies In Africa Show Prevention of AIDS Virus Infection

According to new studies in Africa, daily pills helped prevent infection with AIDS in both heterosexual men and women. The two new studies contradict previous research showing that the pills did not prevent infection in women in various African countries.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Washington conducted two separate studies and both found that the pills dramatically reduced the risk of HIV infection by approximately 63 percent. The CDC conducted a study in Botswana while The University of Washington ran studies in Kenya and Uganda. Both found similar results and authors of the studies believe earlier results may have been flawed.

The University of Washington had been giving placebos to some participants but stopped those studies once they found evidence of HIV infection prevention. Those patients quite possibly will now benefit from the protective pills. The pills are made by Gilead Sciences Inc. of California.