Experimental Gel May Help Prevent Genital Herpes Infections

New findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveal that an experimental gel meant to curb sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could cut the potential chance of women contracting herpes by half.

The important ingredient in the product, tenofir, has been the subject of several studies on its efficacy against HIV, which was found ineffective for the use, partially because of inconsistent use. In pill form, the drug is already used to treat HIV and has been used to test for use against herpes simplex virus type 2.

However, it's important that the gel is used a specific way for it to work properly. It should be applied in high concentration vaginally before and after sex. Unlike the pill, the genl has a higher concentration of tenofir than the pill.

"How people use it is important," said Dr. Connie Celum, via Health Day. Dr. Celum is a professor at the University of Washington, who conducted a study on the pill form of the drug last year, and discovered that it showed some benefits in preventing herpes. "We don't have a cure for HSV-2, and we don't have a vaccine," making the gel a "promising intervention that could reduce herpes acquisition."

In this particular study, researchers examined 422 women without herpes. Participants were randomly given tenofir gel or a placebo. Among the 202 people given the drug, 10.2 new cases of herpes per 100 people were found.

Findings revealed that the placebo saw 22.1 new cases per 100 people, while there was a 51 percent drop in herpes transmission throughout the 18-month study.

Previous findings have also shown that the gel had a 39 to 54 percent range of efficacy in preventing the spread of HIV as well. Yet researchers found that inconsistency in application of the gel calls into its effectiveness into question. 

Further studies will be done on the drug for use against the spread of both herpes and HIV, including vaginal rings and other contraceptives that include it in order to improve patient adherence to instructions for use, researchers noted.

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