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CORRECTED-Cream could protect against herpes
In Sept. 25 WASHINGTON story headlined ''Cream could protect against herpes, researchers
say'' in fourth paragraph please delete reference to the RIC (OTC BB:RDOX - news) incorrectly
assigned to Redox Pharmaceutical Corp. (RDOX.O is the RIC for Redox Technology. There is
no RIC for Redox Pharmaceutical Corp.)
A corrected story follows.
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A cream that women can use just like a spermicide may
protect them against herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases, researchers said on Friday.
The news offers fresh hope for doctors seeking an alternative to the condom to protect people
against diseases that range from herpes to AIDS.
Doctors told a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego that the compound,
known both as doxovir and by its experimental name CTC-96, offers 100 percent protection
against herpes in mice.
The company that makes the compound, Redox Pharmaceutical Corp., is also testing CTC-96
against the HIV virus that causes AIDS and other diseases.
Nigel Bourne, a researcher at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, said the experimental findings, if
they prove equally true in people, would mean a powerful new weapon against sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) has been found.
''We really need to take some action in terms of breaking the cycle which allows these diseases to
spread so rapidly,'' Bourne said in a telephone interview ahead of the meeting.
''We're a little way from this being available to people, but I think this is a very important area.
There's a lot of interest in microbicides at the moment and one of the reasons is it allows a
female-initiated method of protection against STD acquisition.''
Researchers trying to fight HIV and other STDs say while condoms provide the best protecton,
many men refuse to use them. Condoms are also no good if a couple is trying to have a baby.
Microbicides would offer a way for either men or women to protect themselves without the use
of a condom and without the partner knowing. Some women say they are beaten if they ask a
husband or boyfriend to use protection against disease.
Bourne's team tested CTC-96 in female mice, and found it worked to prevent transmission of
the herpes virus before and after the mice were exposed.
''It opens the possibility that you could have a post-exposure compound. That would be a nice
thing,'' Bourne said,
Bourne said it is not clear how the drug works.
''I think the fact that you can use it before and you can also use it so long after tends to argue
that there's more than one method of action,'' he said.
Claudia Stewart, vice president for research for Redox, said CTC-96 was being tested against
other STDs, including HIV.
''We are interested in the major pathogens in STDs and we have tested at least one other with
promising results,'' she said. ''We can't even discuss one of the more encouraging things yet
because we are in the process of patenting.''
While HIV is deadly and incurable, other STDs can also have permanent effects. Herpes,
which infects up to one in five Americans, is incurable, causes painful lesions, and can blind
babies if transmitted during childbirth.
The human papilloma virus, which causes genital warts, can lead to cervical cancer. Bacterial
infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility, while syphilis can cause serious
disease and also be fatal if untreated.
Several drugs against herpes are on the market, including SmithKline Beecham's
(<SMALL>quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland</SMALL>: SB.L) famciclovir, sold as
Famvir, acyclovir, sold under the name Zovirax by Glaxo-Wellcome (<SMALL>quote
from Yahoo! UK & Ireland</SMALL>: GLXO.L) and Glaxo's valaciclovir, known as
Valtrex.
It has not been shown conclusively that they prevent transmission but they can prevent
outbreaks of the painful blisters that characterize herpes. |
