Women poorly represented in AIDS clinical trials. (VII International Conference on AIDS)

DATELINE: VII International Conference on AIDS

Women are underrepresented in AIDS clinical trials, Harvard researcher Deborah Cotton reported at the VII International Conference on AIDS.

Not only are women underrepresented as subjects, but the demographic patterns of women who enter AIDS clinical trial groups do not reflect demographic trends of AIDS in the U.S. female population.

"Female study entrants differ in ethnicity and risk factors from females reported nationally with AIDS," Cotton said. "Women of color are overrepresented in the U.S. AIDS patient population, while women in AIDS clinical trials are more likely to be white with no …