Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - February 7, 2007
"This myth has been perpetuated by at least two senior South African politicians and we have encountered journalists who have mistakenly believed it," the organisation said in an online newsletter.
In the myth's most extreme version, it was said people undergoing microbicide trials, as well as those on vaccine trials and the recently conducted circumcision trials, were exposed to HIV by researchers.
"This is false. On the contrary, participants in these trials must be counselled about safer sex.
"If a trial is conducted properly, participants are arguably at less risk of contracting HIV than the general population, because they have all been through a standardised comprehensive counselling session, approved by a regulatory ethics committee."
The TAC said last week's termination of the Ushercell microbicide trials was a setback for microbicide research. The trials were halted after it was found that the product possibly increased the risk of contracting HIV.
The TAC said it was unlikely that a successful microbicide would be found in the next few years, and it was possible that other ongoing microbicide trials would fail.
"Nevertheless, science advances by learning from failures and ethical trials of the most promising microbicides should continue because the development of a successful microbicide will likely prevent many HIV infections and save many lives."
The probe ordered by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang into the trial should give the South African researchers an opportunity to demonstrate that they conducted the trial ethically, the TAC said.
Microbicides are compounds, such as gels or creams, applied to the vagina or rectum, which researchers hope will prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other infections.
Microbicides are seen as a potentially important way for women to decrease their risk of infection.
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