UK Campaign for Microbicides
New Technology to Prevent HIV Transmission
Condoms are currently the only available technology to prevent the transmission of HIV. For various reasons, some people may be unable or unwilling to insist on condom use during each sexual experience. Data from family planning programmes have shown an increased number of prevention options increases the number of people who choose to use at least one method.
People deserve more choices in HIV prevention.
A microbicide is a substance that can substantially reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI's) when applied either in the vagina or the rectum. Although there is currently no safe and effective Microbicide product available, scientists are seriously pursuing more than 60 product leads, including at least 18 that have proven safe in animals and are now being tested with people. Phase III trials of a vaginal microbicide, Carraguard, have been recently concluded and the results are expected within the next six months. In addition, Phase I safety trials are taking place for possible rectal microbicides. If one of these proves successful, and with sufficient investment, a successful microbicide could be on the market by the end of the decade.
Insufficient financial resources have hampered Microbicide development. Large pharmaceutical companies have not invested significantly in this field, because although microbicides would yield tremendous benefits to society the profit incentive is low.
Virtually all vaginal microbicide research to date has been funded by charitable foundations and government grants, including from the UK Department for International Development. Rectal microbicide development has been even less of a priority for donors. This could be in part due to the stigma and criminalisation of anal sex especially among men who have sex with men. However, there has also been little recognition of heterosexual anal sex.
Increased investment is necessary to make safe and effective microbicides available to the public as soon as possible.
UK Campaign for Microbicide
In January 2005 Interact Worldwide assumed the role of host of the UK Campaign for Microbicides, which had previously been led by the National AIDS Trust. The UK Campaign is an arm of the Global Campaign for Microbicides whose principal objectives are to:
- Generate political will and increased funding for microbicide research and female condom programmes
- Create a supportive policy environment for the timely development, introduction and use of new prevention technologies
- Ensure that as science proceeds, the public interest is protected and the rights and interests of trial participants, users and communities are fully represented and respected
What's New?
'Where Next for New HIV Prevention Technologies?'
To mark World AIDS Day the UK Campaign for Microbicides together with the Prevention Group of the UK Consortium on AIDS and International Development held a briefing at the Royal Society in London on the 2nd December 2008. Attended by around 40 policy makers and advocates 'Where Next for New HIV Prevention Technologies?' provided an update on the state of research and development into vaccines, microbicides and PrEP. Sponsored by the International Partnership for Microbicides and the International AIDS Vaccines Initiative the event was held as a follow up to an event held by the UK Department for International Development in November the briefing allowed a wide range of community advocates to participate in the discussions around these issues.
Presentations were given by Malcolm McNeil, Team Leader of the AIDS and Reproductive Health Team at DFID, Carolina Herrera and Patricia Fletcher researchers from St. Georges University of London and Siphiwe Hlophe from Swaziland for Positive Living. Together the presentations gave an overview of the UK's commitment to research and development into new prevention technologies, the current development pipelines for these potential new tools and the importance of community involvement. The key message from all presenters was that the development of new prevention technologies is a long process and sustained support from donors as well as civil society is essential, and that moreover civil society should increasingly engage with the communities they work with around these issues to ensure that they can be accessed quickly once a successful product is identified.
A full report of the event and the presentations will be available shortly.
M2008 Feedback Session, March 2008
Following the international conference the UK Campaign for Microbicides hosted an entertaining and lively feedback session on the 26th March. Advocates from across the UK took part in a interesting question and answer session where the latest information and research was discussed.
Microbicides 2008 Conference 24th-27th February 2008, New Dehli, India
The conference provided updates on ongoing research and development efforts in the area of microbicides around the world. In addition to research and product development the progress made in ethics, clinical research, socio-behavioral and epidemiological studies, accessibility and acceptability issues was also discussed.
The UK Campaign was well represented at the conference with several members playing an active role, including hosting several discussions. They also participated in a blog on the AIDS portal, keeping people around the world up to date with events at the conference.
UK Microbicide Conferences
The African Microbicides Working Group held two big successful events over the past year. 'Women, HIV and Microbicides' was held in March in Manchester in collaboration with George House Trust. The event involved primarily HIV positive African women and HIV service providers in the area. This was followed in June with the 'Sisters are doing it for themselves!' conference, held in collaboration with HIV Scotland in Edinburgh with interested service providers and policymakers.
Click here to download the reports of the conferences - HIV Women and Microbicides, Manchester; Sisters are doing it for themselves, Scotland
Learn More
Click here to download a fact sheet on the UK Campaign for Microbicides.
For more information on the UK Campaign for Microbicides or to join the mailing list, please email Amy Whalley at whalleya@interactworldwide.org.
Please also visit the website of the Global Campaign for Microbicides for resources and technical information.
