The Hindu : National : Microbicides can provide new tools for HIV prevention

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 30, 2006
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Microbicides can provide new tools for HIV prevention

Aarti Dhar

They will put the power of protection into the hands of women: Zeda F. Rosenberg

— Photo: Handout

Zeda F. Rosenberg

NEW DELHI: The development of safe and effective microbicides will provide women with critically needed new tools to fight HIV/AIDS, according to Zeda F. Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM).

Talking to The Hindu during her visit here, Ms. Rosenberg said microbicides would complement the existing prevention strategies such as treatment for sexually transmitted infections, use of condoms, behavioural changes and abstinence, besides vaccines and male circumcision.

Can be used as gel

Microbicides are products being developed for women to reduce the transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) during intercourse. They can be used in the form of a gel, cream, film, suppository or sponge or contained in a ring that releases the active ingredient gradually.

Four first generation microbicides are under large-scale efficacy trials, in which thousands of women in Africa and Asia are enrolling.

Women are being infected with HIV faster than men largely due to their increased biological susceptibility.

Most women have little or no control over the conditions under which they have sex, and often cannot negotiate the use of condoms. Abstinence or the use of condoms will prevent their getting pregnant. For many women, particularly in resource-poor countries, their ability to bear children determines their status in society and within their marriage.

"A microbicide has the potential to put the power of protection from HIV infection into the hands of women," Ms. Rosenberg said.

Anti-viral compounds

IPM, a non-profit organisation, was established in 2002 to accelerate the development of a safe, effective, accessible and affordable microbicide for women in developing countries. "Major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to license candidate drugs to IPM for development as microbicides without any royalty. IPM has the licence to develop, manufacture and distribute anti-viral compounds as microbicides in developing countries from Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson), Merck and Co, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Over the next few years, we will focus on steering these drugs through the pre-clinical and clinical development phases at the fastest possible pace."

Ms. Rosenberg said it was IPM's mission to market these products at a low cost. Microbicides could have a huge market in India provided there was adequate publicity and awareness. "Treatment of HIV/AIDS is not sustainable in the long run, and the next best possible choice we have is to prevent the disease from spreading."

India has been involved with the microbicide trials since 1990; one such drug is being tested in St. John's Hospital, Bangalore.

India's first microbicide (buffergel) trial was initiated in 1997-98, and is now under efficacy trial in the Pune-based National AIDS Research Institute.

Four more clinical trials are being carried out in Africa, and their results would be available in 2007.

"If these results are positive, the product could be available within two years or otherwise in the next five years but as of now we are not clear whether they have the potency and efficacy to prevent infection," Ms. Rosenberg said..

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