Campaigners call for Microbicide funding

Microbicides could give women an alternative way of protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS as prevention messages urging women to use condoms or remain monogamous were unrealistic, campaigners say.

According to the advocacy group the Global Campaign for Microbicides and Prevention Options for Women, although microbicides would probably never be as effective as condoms in preventing infection, women who seldom or never use condoms could lower their overall risk of infection by using a microbicide. In acceptability studies conducted in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and South Africa, both women and men expressed willingness to use microbicides.

Women are the fastest-growing population with HIV/AIDS, and most become infected through heterosexual contact. However they lack both the power within relationships to insist on condom use and the social and economic resources to abandon partners who put their health at risk.

"With sufficient human and scientific resources, a microbicidal product could be available to women within five years. However, large pharmaceutical companies are simply not interested in investing in microbicide development," the group said in a statement.

It said pharmaceutical companies were skeptical about whether microbicides would be profitable after the costs of research and marketing were met, as such products would have to be cheap to be made available globally.

The international advocacy campaign called for public funds to be made available in the research and development process and for governments to create incentives for greater investment by the private sector.

"There are a number of promising microbicides in development, and we have everything we need to bring a microbicide to market within five years ­except the money," the statement said.

Microbicides produce a chemical barrier that could substantially reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STDs when used in the vagina or rectum. They can come in many forms, including gels, creams, suppositories, films, or in the form of a sponge or vaginal ring.

More information at www.microbicide.org