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| Issue 1, 2009 |
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| Issue 3, 2008 |
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| Issue 2, 2008 |
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| Issue 1, 2008 |
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| Issue 4, 2007 |
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| Issue 3, 2007 |
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| Issue 2, 2007 |
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| Issue 1, 2007 |
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| Issue 4, 2006 |
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| Issue 3, 2006 |
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| Issue 2, 2006 |
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| Issue 1, 2006 |
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| Issue 1, 2005 |
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Issue 3, 2008
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Did You Know
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Microbicides
A microbicide is a substance that can substantially reduce
transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
when applied either in the vagina or rectum. A microbicide
could be produced in many forms, including gels, creams,
suppositories, films, lubricants, or in the form of a sponge
or a vaginal ring that slowly releases the active ingredient.
The word ‘microbicides’ refers to a range of different
products that share one common characteristic: the ability
to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other STI
pathogens (a pathogen is the agent that causes an infection)
when applied locally.
Microbicides are not yet available. Scientists are currently
testing many substances to see whether they help protect
against HIV and/or other STIs, but no safe and effective
microbicide is currently available. Right now, there are over
30 product leads, including 10 that have proven safe and
effective in animals and are now being tested on people.
A microbicide could prevent HIV and STIs by either killing
or immobilising pathogens, blocking infection by creating a
barrier between the pathogen and the cells of the vagina or
rectum; or preventing the infection from taking hold after
it has entered the body. Ideally, the product would combine
these mechanisms for extra effectiveness.
Scientists hope that some of the microbicides being
investigated will prevent pregnancy whereas some will not.
It is important to have both non-contraceptive microbicides
and ‘dual-action’ microbicides that prevent pregnancy and
infection, so that women and couples can protect their
health and still have children.
Microbicides, like all other experimental drugs, must go
through a carefully controlled series of tests for safety and
effectiveness in laboratories and humans before they can
become available for general use. Women’s health activists
and researchers are working closely together to ensure that
the clinical testing of microbicides in humans is thorough
and ethical. Many of the substances and mechanisms of
action under investigation are already commonly used in
over-the-counter products.
The microbicides field has been characterised by an
unusual interplay between advocacy and research. The
earliest articulations of the need for a woman-initiated
prevention method came from women themselves rather
than policymakers and scientists, unlike the call for HIV
vaccines which came from scientists. This was long before
most people working in the field of AIDS understood or
appreciated the huge impact of the epidemic on women.
Virtually all microbicides research to date has been
conducted by non-profit and academic institutions or small
biotech companies. Studies are being funded by charitable
foundations and government grants. Large pharmaceutical
companies have not invested significantly in this field,
primarily because microbicides are a classic ‘public health
good’ which would yield huge benefits to society but for
which the profit incentive to private investment is low.
For more information on microbicides please visit www.
global-campaign.org. Microbicides 2008, the fourth
biannual international conference on microbicides was held
in Delhi in February 2008. For an update on the conference
please visit www.microbicides2008.com |
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