Cambodian Prime Minister Joins Push to Boycott Drug Trials

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen denounced plans for a human HIV drug trial in impoverished Cambodia, which was chosen because of its high HIV infection rate of about 2.6 percent. While not mentioning the trial by name, Hun Sen appeared to be referring to the controversial study to test the antiretroviral drug tenofovir DF on nearly 1,000 Cambodian sex workers. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding the study -- a joint effort between Cambodia's health ministry, Australia's University of New South Wales and the University of California-San Francisco.

"Please don't use Cambodian human beings to test the HIV vaccine. Please test it on the animals," said Hun Sen at a children's hospital ceremony in the capital attended by more than 1,000 health care workers, diplomats and politicians.

Though several large nongovernmental organizations back the study, it has been summarily rejected by Cambodia's Women's Network for Unity (WNU), a sex workers' union. WNU cited the study's failure to offer long-term medical care or a 30-year guarantee against side effects. The 150-member group also believes poorly educated women might obtain a false sense of security because of the study, causing them to engage in unprotected sex.

The study's goal is to determine whether tenofovir DF is effective in preventing new HIV infections in healthy, sexually active adults.

WNU liaison officer Sou Sotheavy applauded Hun's comments. "We are very glad Hun Sen has chosen to support us in this," said Sou.

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