Dr. Anthony S. Fauci's Statement on the CAPRISA 004 Microbicide Study

On July 19, 2010, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, released a statement to acknowledge the results from the CAPRISA 004 Microbicide Study. To read the entire statement, visit the NIAID website.

"Today we congratulate the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South AfricaExit Disclaimer (CAPRISA) and the people of South Africa on the positive findings from the CAPRISA 004 microbicide studyExit Disclaimer , which marks a significant milestone both for the microbicide research field and HIV prevention as a whole.

For years, antiretroviral medicines have been effectively used to treat HIV infection. Through the successful conduct of the CAPRISA 004 study, we now have proof that an antiretroviral drug, in this case tenofovir, can be formulated into a vaginal gel that can protect women against HIV infection. Given that women make up the majority of new HIV infections throughout the world this finding is an important step toward empowering an at-risk population with a safe and effective HIV prevention tool.

The CAPRISA 004 study is an exciting scientific achievement that moves us one step forward to gaining another effective tool to prevent HIV infection. However, because no one approach will be appropriate or acceptable to all, we must continue to pursue a range of HIV prevention modalities, including microbicides, PrEP, and vaccines, as we simultaneously pursue scientific strategies designed to bring us closer to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS."