Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - November 8, 2000
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Dr Khanchit Limpkanjanawat, co-director of the HIV/Aids Collaboration said the study, being conducted with the Population Council, is to measure the safety of "carraguard", generically known as "lambda-carrageenan" or PC-515. It may help women from becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
The seaweed gel has long been used in anti-ageing cosmetics and food products like jelly.
Though the gel does not destroy HIV, it is expected to prevent the virus from entering blood cells.
Dr Khanchit was speaking at a press conference to mark 10 years of collaboration between the Health Ministry and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mongkhol na Songkhla, the permanent secretary of health, assured that the study would benefit Thailand, which has an 80% rate of sexually transmitted HIV.
A parallel study is being conducted in South Africa. The gel would have to be applied an hour before having sex or at least thrice a week, Dr Khanchit said.
The first volunteer for the study was recruited in February, while the last volunteer enrolled in the study this month, Dr Khanchit said.
Married women above 18 years of age with low HIV risk and whose husbands do not suffer from any sexually transmitted diseases, have been chosen for the study.
These women have been advised against pregnancy during the one-year study period, Dr Khanchit said, adding that half of the women in the study will receive the seaweed gel while the other half will be given a comparative gel.
Dr Khanchit said he did not think women under the study would have any difficulty coping with the trial because it was similar to using other types of contraceptives.
The study will be terminated if the women are found to suffer from serious scratches at the ovum or tissues.
Dr Peter Kilmarx, chief of the HIV/Aids Collaboration's Chiang Rai chapter, said so far no side effects had been reported by the volunteers.
Dr Khanchit said if proven successful, the study is expected to reduce sexual transmission between couples where there is little use of condoms.
Results on safety of the use of the gel are expected to be known after a year and if proven safe, a study on its effectiveness will follow.
Dr Helen Galye of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said if the product is found successful, certain commitments would have to be made by parties concerned to permit availability of the product at reasonable prices in all countries.
"Although we can't assure what the prices will be, we will work with partners like donors and pharmaceutical companies to make sure they are affordable in broader communities," she said.
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