The Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa) 004 Tenofovir gel trial was on Wednesday announced the winner of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAid’s) Science and Technology Pioneers Prize. 

The prize, which was inaugurated this year, recognised excellence in the use of science and technology to solve development challenges.

The gel trial, which was funded by USAid and the South African Department of Science and Technology, was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal by a group of South African and US researchers and provided proof-of-concept that an antiretroviral (ARV) gel used before and after sexual intercourse could protect women against HIV.

The microbicide gel, containing 1% Tenofovir, an ARV usually used to prevent HIV from growing inside human cells, was 39% effective in preventing the HIV infection in women and had the unexpected benefit of 51% effectiveness in preventing genital herpes infections.

These protective effects were even higher for those women who used the gel most of the time.

Taken in pill form, Tenofovir was a common component of various three-drug cocktails that were used to treat HIV infections. 

The results of the Caprisa trial indicated that Tenofovir, formulated as a topical gel and inserted into the female genital tract, also had “great promise” for use in the prevention of HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2.

The follow-on confirmatory trial, Facts 001, involving up to 2 900 women, was currently under way at nine research clinics across South Africa.

“Research on the gel shows how fruitful international partnerships between the US and South African scientists can be, in this case addressing one of the biggest challenges facing our country – the Aids epidemic. 

“Over the past decade, Caprisa has played an instrumental role in HIV and Aids prevention and treatment research, making some ground-breaking discoveries. We commend the outstanding work they have done in the quest to find an affordable and effective HIV and Aids vaccine," commented Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom.

USAid HIV/Aids office director David Stanton said the Caprisa 004 trial was a key milestone in an ongoing journey towards an approved microbicide product for women.

“The team is honoured and humbled by this recognition.  We will be using the $200 000, or R2.2-million, prize money on research to understand why and how HIV spreads so rapidly in young women in South Africa,” added Caprisa associate director and research team leader Quarraisha Abdool Karim.