Most of the world's 33.4 million people who live with HIV/AIDS

On the Market by 2013?

Most of the world's 33.4 million people who live with HIV/AIDS are in Africa, where the highest burden of HIV infection is among women younger than 30 years. The trial involved 889 women in Durban and a remote rural village in South Africa. Half the women were given the gel containing the medicine to use before and after sex, while half were given a placebo gel.

After one year, the study results showed the gel lowered the risk of infection by 50%. After two-and-a-half years, the gel reduced the rate of infection by 39%. The lower level of effectiveness in the second year was associated with a drop-off in usage by women who became infected with HIV. Also, there were 54% fewer infections among those who used the gel more than 80% of the time and a 28% reduction among those who used it least.

While the study used the gold standard for clinical research, some flaws would prevent applying for regulatory approval of the gel. But if the study results are confirmed in a second trial known as Voice, which is already enrolling patients, a product could be ready as early as 2013, according to Bloomberg.

The "study is an exciting scientific achievement that moves us one step forward to gaining another effective tool to prevent HIV infection," said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci in a statement.

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