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Hospital’s fears over 'HIV-bashing' gel
7:38am Tuesday 27th December 2005
Comments (1)HEALTH bosses have expressed concern over a new gel which claims to protect against sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).
Sx-Gel, which is available to buy on the internet, claims to kill diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, thrush and syphilis when used as a form of protection during sexual intercourse.
It also claims to "help protect" against viruses such as HIV by killing the bacteria responsible for transmitting it.
Not a licensed medicine
Darent Valley Hospital chiefs say Sx-Gel is not licensed as a medicine, even though it makes medical claims to protect against STIs.
A hospital spokesman said: "We have no knowledge of this product being used in STI clinics and we are unaware of any clinical trials or other evidence supporting its use."
Consultant in genito urinary medicine and HIV, Dr Paul Key, added: "Before using any product people need to be confident they are using a safe and effective method of protection which has been clinically tested and is officially approved."
A spokesman for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is the national body responsible for licensing medicines in the UK, said: "We will be looking into this.
"Sx-Gel is not licensed as a medicine and the product needs to be licensed before it can be sold in the UK."
Shops deny knowledge
Lapme Limited, distributors of Sx-Gel, claim to be in negotiations with Boots, Superdrug, Lloyd's Pharmacy Group, Asda, Tesco and Morrisons about bringing the product to the high street.
But all the stores denied they would be selling it and said they had not even heard of the product.
Sx-Gel's technical support manger Paul Young says the gel had proved 100 per cent effective at killing generic STIs when tested in laboratory conditions.
The firm declined to comment about Darent Valley Hospital's fears.
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lee garner, says...
3:37am Wed 25 Jan 06
2. We told him to wait and we would send him info on the release of the reports made in the medical magazine J.A.C and the report made by Dr Enwrite and also by the Imperial College London.
3. But NO he was in a rush and had to have it ready by tomorrow tomorrow ! and we told him that he would have to wait for the reports and info.
4. We did tell him that we would meet later and show him the products and all the info BUT he was too rushed and he needed the info because he was close to deadline so we told him to wait
5. As the product is new and innovated it is seen as a wild card but with the reports from respected fellows and the reports and findings from the labs then you have to look and understand before crying wolf as some reporters have.
6. He spoke to us before Christmas and was in such a rush and was not happy to wait until we could meet to show him the product and the reports etc.
7. On the phone he was not happy to be told he can not have all the info right now and would have to wait possible till after Christmas he got in a huff and said then he would write a bad report about sxgel and lapme.
8. I feel that just because we told him to wait and come down to meet us and if you wish to do a story then wait for all the correct info collated then do the story he for some reason could not wait why ?.
9. And I feel that if someone from your paper is not willing to come and meet me and see the products and the reports and the info relating to the AQ+ compound then I think that is poor show and will advise all when asked in Ref of this article the truth as I see it and when down the line when asked in Ref to the paper I will again say how I feel and how I see the lack of professional reporting profession of this person.
10. If the paper is willing to come and meet me then I am more then happy to show and tell. But not to Mr Chris Johnson.
Thank you
Lee garner