The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. The HIV drug called lopinavir attacks the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer. The University of Manchester team said that a cream can be made to apply directly to the cervix to kill the HPV virus.
There are cervical cancer vaccines being developed but if you already have the HPV virus then the vaccines won't be of any good. Most women that know they have HPV have to get regular Pap smears to test for abnormal cells in their cervix. Since we know that HPV can lead to cervical cancer it is watched closely. This cream if developed can lower the amount of surgeries to be performed on patients with abnormal Pap smears. The doctors would be able to use the cream to kill the HPV virus before it starts to cause malignant changes in the cells of the cervix.
The article also states that since the drug is already approved or treating HIV it might only take a few years for the drug to be available.
1. Bed virus - drug too.
Posted at 6:16AM on Aug 26th 2006 by Agroturystyka