'Contraceptive gel' shows promise

25 October 2010 Last updated at 19:14 ET

A birth control gel that is applied to the skin could offer woman an alternative to the Pill, say experts presenting latest trial data.

Used once daily, it delivers hormones to prevent a pregnancy in the same way as oral contraceptives do.

Early studies show the gel is effective and well tolerated, with none of the typical side effects associated with the Pill, like weight gain and acne.

The Nestorone gel is being developed with drug firm Antares Pharma.

Researchers told the American Society for Reproductive Medicine how they hope to bring the product to market if clinical trial results continue to be positive.

The gel can be applied to the abdomen, thighs, arms or shoulders and is quickly absorbed, with no residue.

Experts say it is also suitable for women who are breastfeeding, unlike the combined Pill which can interfere with milk supply.

Dr Ruth Merkatz from the not-for-profit Population Council research centre in New York led the latest study, which involved 18 women in their 20s to 30s.

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"Start Quote

There are approximately two million women using a contraceptive method that they are unhappy with, so they will benefit from improved choices and options"

End Quote Natika Halil The Family Planning Association

The research found the optimum dose of the gel was 3mg a day.

Over the course of seven months, none of the women using the treatment fell pregnant. Hormone studies showed the gel suppressed the production of eggs by the ovary.

Dr Merkatz said: "From this small study we found it was effective.

"It's in early stage development but if we move on, we will obviously test it in many, many more women."

The researchers say it could offer an alternative to the Pill, which is used by over 3m women in the UK alone.

Natika Halil, director of information at the Family Planning Association, said: "Any contraceptive system that increases the choice of methods available to women and helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies is welcome.

"Our research shows that there are approximately two million women using a contraceptive method that they are unhappy with, so they will benefit from improved choices and options.

"This product won't suit everyone and will only be for women comfortable (with) putting it on their skin and having their contraceptive cover that way."

Simon Blake, chief executive of sexual health charity Brook, said: "Obviously this is still in the very early stages of development but anything that can help young women has got to be a good thing.

"Clearly what young women need is more choice."

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New polio vaccine more effective

25 October 2010 Last updated at 19:20 ET By Ania Lichtarowicz Health reporter, BBC News

A new vaccine against the polio virus has helped reduce the number of cases by more than 90%.

Research published online in the journal The Lancet, shows that the new vaccine is significantly better at protecting children against polio than the current popular vaccine.

It has already been used in Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.

The scientists behind the work believe this new vaccine could help to finally eradicate the disease.

Disease elimination

Mass vaccination campaigns have led to the number of polio endemic countries falling from 125 in 1988 to just four in 2005.

This meant an actual drop in cases from 350,000 to just 1,606 in 2009.

Polio is caused by one of 3 versions of the polivirus: type1, type 2 or type 3.

Until recently, vaccines targetting either all three forms of the virus or just one of them were used to immunisie children.

The last case of type 2 polio was recorded in India in 1999, so it's the other two types that need to be targeted to finally eliminate the disease.

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This vaccine could get us over the top and get us to the finish line for eradication."

End Quote Dr. Roland Sutter WHO

The authors of the study carried out a trial in India comparing the commonly used old vaccines to the new one, which is taken orally.

In total, 830 newborn babies received either the new vaccine or one of the old vaccines in two doses - one at birth and one 30 days later.

Blood samples were taken before vaccination and after the first and second doses to measure seroconversion - the rise in antibodies produced by the immune system against polio.

It appears that the new vaccine is about 30% more effective in protecting against polio than the most commonly used vaccine to date.

Finish Line

The new vaccine has already been used in immunisation campaigns in Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.

In India the number of cases this time last year was 464. Over the same period this year there have only been only 39 cases.

Nigeria has seen an even greater difference, with cases falling by 95%.

The new vaccine and improved immunisation programmes appear to be responsible for this significant decrease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Roland Sutter, from the WHO and the lead author of the study, told BBC News: "This (new) vaccine could get us over the top and get us to the finish line for eradication.

"The dramatic drop in the number of polio cases in India and Nigeria is attributable to the new vaccine and better coverage during immunization campaigns."

Commenting on the research, Nigel Crawford and Jim Buttery from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (SAEFVIC) in Melbourne, Australia, said that the new vaccine had shown great promise.

However they cautioned that the global financial crisis had resulted in a massive funding gap for immunisation programmes worldwide, including polio.

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