February 28, 2014
IAVI Statement in Response to MDP 301 Phase III Trial of a Vaginal Microbicide
NEW YORK, NY, December 14, 2009 – The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative congratulates the partners involved in the MDP 301 Phase III clinical trial of a vaginal microbicide known as PRO 2000 on the successful conduct of the largest microbicide trial completed to date. We are disappointed to learn that PRO 2000 did not prove effective in preventing HIV transmission to women. However, the trial itself provided other achievements that will help advance microbicide development and HIV prevention research generally.
MDP 301 was conducted across six research centers in four countries in Africa, helping to strengthen clinical research capacity in the continent that can be used for future studies. MDP 301 had a very high retention rate, attesting to the tremendous efforts of the in-country researchers and the community workers who help recruit and educate trial participants, as well as to the dedication of the participants.
Additional research on microbicides and other new HIV prevention tools must continue. Current prevention methods, while effective if used, clearly aren’t sufficient given that nearly 7,400 people become infected with HIV each day. Research on new products—including microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis and AIDS vaccines—must remain a priority.