Contraceptive Safe And Effective Against HIV Transmission.

2001 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a recent paper, scientists at Parker Hughes Cancer Center reported that 5-bromo-6-methoxy-5,6,-dihydro-3'-azidothymidine-5'-(p-bromophenyl) methyoxyalaninyl phosphate (WHI-07), a potent dual-function contraceptive agent with anti-HIV activity, had no reproductive toxicity in mice.

In a series of experiments scientists assessed the potential reproductive toxicity of WHI-07, by exposing female mice to a gel formulation of the drug at various doses for up to 13 weeks. The concentrations tested were nearly 6000 times more than the level at which it is an effective spermicide and nearly six million times greater than its anti-HIV activity. By exposing the mice to high concentrations of the drug scientists sought to determine if there were any adverse events associated with the use of WHI-07. Parker Hughes scientists found no evidence of toxicity, fetal toxicity and no adverse effect on subsequent reproductive capability, or on the growth and development of offspring.

The development of this drug is important because heterosexual transmission of HIV accounts for the vast majority of all HIV infections worldwide and constitutes a growing problem in the United States. Scientists have ...