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Players in the field...

...in the Microbicides Field:


An Annotated Summary

This information was compiled by the Global Campaign for Microbicides to help microbicide advocates develop familiarity with the field. It is by no means a complete listing of all entities involved in microbicide advocacy and research. Omissions have been made for the sake of brevity and carry no implication about the entities omitted. No privately owned companies involved in microbicide research and development are included. For more information, please contact: info@global-campaign.org)


ADVOCACY

African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG)
AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention
International Rectal Microbicide Advocates
New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS)

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Combined Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Microbicides (CHAARM)
CONRAD
European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)
European Microbicides Project
European Vaccines and Microbicides Enterprise (EUROPRISE)
FHI
International Partnership for Microbicides
Microbicide Development Programme (MDP)
Microbicide Trials Network (MTN)
Population Council

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

ADVOCACY

Please note that only microbicide-focused advocacy groups operating internationally are listed here. Numerous valuable national and regional advocacy coalitions have also emerged and can be located through the Global Campaign’s website.

African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) (http://www.global-campaign.org/amag.htm)
The African Microbicides Advocacy Group is a coalition of microbicide and other NPT advocates from organisations and institutions based and/or working in Africa. Its main objectives are to foster the creation and implementation of an African-driven agenda for microbicides research, development, advocacy and sustainable access; and to strengthen the capacity of national or community groups for advocacy work. The AMAG network is comprised of over 400 members – researchers, community advocates, policy-makers and representatives of the media - from 30 countries across and beyond Africa. Through conference events, community trainings, strategy sessions, capacity-building activities with partners and through a closed moderated email discussion forum - AMAG builds partnerships and collaboration among those actively working on microbicides advocacy, research and policy in Africa.

Look here for:

  • Information about how to apply to join the AMAG e-mail discussion forum
  • Breaking news on microbicide issues of immediate relevance to AMAG members
  • Reports and updates on current and future AMAG activities

AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention (www.avac.org)
Founded in 1995, AVAC is an international non-profit organization that uses education, policy analysis, advocacy, and community mobilization to accelerate the ethical development and eventual global delivery of AIDS vaccines and other new HIV prevention options as part of a comprehensive response to the pandemic. AVAC is dedicated to translating complex scientific ideas to communities & community needs and perceptions to the scientific community; building coalitions, working groups and convening think tanks; holding agencies accountable for accelerating ethical R&D; and developing and disseminate high quality, user-friendly materials about the field of biomedical HIV prevention research.

Look here for:

Comprehensive coverage of the full range of biomedical HIV-prevention interventions in an easy-to-use format that is searchable by intervention (including www.prepwatch.org and www.aidsvaccineclearinghouse.org) and by topic, like policy, ethics, and community involvement in research.

*After 12 years of existence, the Alliance for Microbicide Development closed its doors in 2009. Many important resources that the Alliance generated are being integrated into an expanded collaboration with AVAC, including the Weekly NewsDigest, MRDD, and the Clinical Trials Capacity Database.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (www.rectalmicrobicides.org)
The International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) is comprised of over 600 advocates, policymakers and leading scientists from 46 countries. It unites AIDS advocates, scientists, and policymakers around the globe in efforts to confront the institutional, socio-cultural and political stigma and denial around the public health need for rectal microbicide research and to increase funding and commitment within this field of inquiry. IRMA hosts a moderated listserv and sponsors regular international conference calls featuring expert updates on the status of rectal microbicide research as well as other relevant developments in HIV prevention technology. It also engages in transnational projects such as a lubricant use survey, designed to gather important data for future research on the safety of over the counter sexual lubricants and insights into acceptability issues for future rectal microbicides.

Look here for:

  • Slides and minutes from recent tele-conference presentations, including the latest in research and science
  • Information about applying to join the IRMA moderated listserv
  • The lubricant use survey
  • Rectal Microbicides: Investments and Advocacy, a groundbreaking report issued in April, 2006
  • Less Silence, More Science report, Advocacy to Make Rectal Microbicides a Reality, realesed at M2008 in New Delhi, India

New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) (www.nhvmas-ng.org/index.php)    

NHVMAS, a nonprofit organization, was established in 2003 as a broad movement of vaccine and microbicides advocates to help halt the spread of HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.  NHVMAS was formed to ensure the proactive participation of Nigeria and Nigerians in global efforts to develop and make available new safe, effective, acceptable, and affordable HIV prevention technologies and tools. Driven by members, supporters, and partners, the organization recognises that there is an ethical imperative to urgently support new HIV prevention methods to complement other existing prevention strategies.

 

Look here for:

·          Notices of events held in Nigeria and internationally

·          Publications, reports, and factsheets

·          FAQ on HIV vaccines

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Please note that no privately owned companies involved in microbicide research and development are included here.

Combined Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Microbicides (CHAARM) (www.chaarm.eu)

CHAARM is a collaboration among 31 partners from eight EU countries and from Switzerland, Ukraine, South Africa, and the United States and is co-funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development. The aim of this project is to develop combinations of highly active specifically targeted microbicides for vaginal and rectal application to inhibit HIV transmission at mucosal sites.  The consortium is multidisciplinary with scientists engaged in basic discovery, identification of new targets, and development of novel chemistry in order to produce therapeutically viable compounds.

CONRAD (www.conrad.org)
CONRAD (Contraceptive Research and Development), established by the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, USA and the USAID, exists to facilitate the rapid development of safe, acceptable, affordable products and methods that provide contraception and/or prevent the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS and other infections. Currently, CONRAD has three candidate microbicides in clinical trials: UC-781 and ACIDFORM in Phase I and Tenofovir gel in Phase 2b.

European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) (www.edctp.net)

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership is a funding mechanism designed to support research collaborations in the area of HIV, TB and malaria between Europe and Africa. Although no microbicide trials have yet been funded by EDCTP, three capacity building projects at six future trial sites in Africa were initiated in 2007. Financing for EDCTP is expected to come from three sources: the European Commission, European member states and the private sector.

European Microbicides Project (www.empro.org.uk)
Funded by the European Commission, the European Microbicides Project (EMPRO) is a consortium of 35 principal investigators from institutions in Europe and Africa. Using a range of novel technologies and approaches, EMPRO is developing a pipeline of candidate microbicides with defined molecular targets that block the entry of HIV at mucosal sites, specifically the vagina. Another smaller EC project called Selection and Development of Microbicides for Mucosal Use to Prevent Sexual HIV Transmission/Acquisition (SHIVA) is focused on the pre-clinical development of a compound currently known as MC 1220.

European Vaccines and Microbicides Enterprise (EUROPRISE)(http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/poverty-diseases/projects/132_en.htm)

EUROPRISE is an European network started in 2007 bringing together over 130 institutions in 22 countries in the field of vaccines and microbicides. Its principal aim is to bring together EU scientists from both fields to embrace a coordinated approach to HIV prevention research. The EUROPRISE network does not conduct research in its own right but runs taskforces that encompass and promote the entire R&D pipeline, including early research, discovering new leads, and readying products for early safety testing in humans.

FHI (www.fhi.org)
FHI is among the largest international public health NGOs, managing research and field activities in more than 70 countries to meet the public health needs of some of the world's most vulnerable people. It serves as the Coordinating and Operations Centre for the both the HIV Prevention Trials Network and the Microbicide Trials Network (see note within MTN below); and has conducted trials of various candidate microbicides, as well as social science research on potential microbicide use and acceptability.

International Partnership for Microbicides (www. ipm-microbicides.org)
The International Partnership for Microbicides is a non-profit product development partnership established in 2002 to accelerate the development and accessibility of microbicides to prevent the transmission of HIV in women. By screening compounds, designing optimal formulations, establishing manufacturing capacity, developing trial sites and conducting clinical trials, the organization works to improve the efficiency of all efforts to develop and deliver safe and effective microbicides as soon as possible.

Microbicide Development Programme (MDP) (www.mdp.mrc.ac.uk)
The Microbicides Development Programme is a public private partnership funded by the UK Department of International Development with support from the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and EDCTP. Coordinated by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit and Imperial College London in collaboration with institutions in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Zambia, the MDP is fielding a trial of two concentrations of PRO-2000/5™. Additionally, MDP is assessing the suitability of new products to enter safety studies in the UK and Africa.

Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) (www.mtnstopshiv.org)
The Microbicide Trials Network is a new HIV/AIDS clinical trials network established in 2006 by the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Based at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Women’s Research Institute, the MTN carries out its mission through a strong network of expert international and domestic scientists, investigators and community partners, working within a unique infrastructure specifically designed to facilitate research required to support licensure of topical microbicide products for widespread use. The MTN anticipates conducting 17 separate clinical trials of microbicides between 2006 and 2013. It has clinical trials of four candidate microbicides underway: PRO 2000/5™, BufferGel™, tenofovir 1% gel (PMPA) and SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel™).

Population Council (www.popcouncil.org)
The Population Council, an international NGO, conducts  biomedical, social science, and public health research on global issues, focusing on reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, and poverty, gender, and youth. The Council has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS and microbicide development since the late 1980’s. The Council’s first-generation microbicide candidate, Carraguard®, was the first novel candidate microbicide for which a Phase 3 trial was completed as planned among a general population of women without any safety concerns. While the trial did not show Carraguard to be effective in preventing HIV transmission during vaginal sex, it did show Carraguard to be a potentially useful vehicle for future-generation microbicides. The Council is continuing research and development of new microbicide formulations with different mechanisms of action and delivery systems, including some aimed at preventing pregnancy and other STI infection. Complementary research seeks to improve participation in trials and greater compliance with trial protocols.