Microbicide News and Research

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A Microbicide is any substance or process that kills germs (bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause infection and disease). Also called germicide.

New compounds can target RNase H enzyme in HIV

Scientists who study HIV are facing a troubling consequence of their own success. They created drugs that can now give infected patients almost normal life expectancy. However, those same drugs will eventually cause the constantly mutating virus to evolve into a form that eludes current treatments.

18 Jan 2013

IRMA, Population Council and MTN release Rectal Revolution video project

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), the Population Council, and the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) today released a collaborative video project called "The Rectal Revolution Is Here: An Introduction to Rectal Microbicide Clinical Trials." The jointly produced video, the first of its kind, is designed to educate communities affected by HIV about rectal microbicide development and the importance of participating in clinical trials to help speed the search for new HIV prevention options.

18 Dec 2012

BBC News examines HIV microbicide research

BBC News examines ongoing efforts to develop a female-controlled microbicide to prevent HIV infection. But so far, "efforts ... have presented a great deal of frustration in the fight against this global epidemic," the news service writes, detailing the history of some failed experiments.

12 Dec 2012

Recent release: Blogs discuss advancements in HIV preventative, therapeutic R&D

In this post in the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog, IAVI President and CEO Margaret McGlynn, AVAC Executive Director Mitchell Warren and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe highlight the release of a report from the HIV Vaccine & Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group.

26 Jul 2012

New NIAID grant to support development of topical microbicide gel for HIV and HSV-2 infections

A new grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will support the development of a topical microbicide gel for drug delivery. The innovative gel formulation will be a combination therapy against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections in women.

25 Jul 2012

Bill Gates stresses importance of investment in both HIV treatment and research for vaccines, microbicides

In a symposium session on Monday at the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., politicians and public health experts joined Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates for a discussion about improving effectiveness and efficiency in the HIV/AIDS response, the Washington Post reports.

25 Jul 2012

Dapivirine Phase III trial now underway in Africa to treat HIV in women

A large clinical trial testing the long-term safety and effectiveness of a new approach for preventing HIV in women - a vaginal ring used once a month - is now underway in Africa, researchers announced today at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012).

25 Jul 2012

HIV in MSM increasing in countries of all incomes

A new Lancet Series published to coincide with the AIDS2012 meeting highlights a population where the HIV epidemic is growing in countries of all incomes: men who have sex with men (MSM). The first paper in the Series charts the epidemiology of HIV among MSM, and is by Professor Chris Beyrer, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA, and colleagues.

20 Jul 2012

International Partnership for Microbicides CEO discusses research in GlobalPost interview

GlobalPost's "Global Pulse" blog features an interview with Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), in which she discusses a study of a vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral (ARV) dapivirine.

20 Jul 2012

Pre-exposure preventive treatment may be effective against suspected HIV

While immediate postexposure treatment for suspected HIV is critical, pre-exposure preventive treatment is a newer method that may be effective for people in high-risk groups, states a review of evidence published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

29 May 2012

House Appropriations Committee releases draft report on FY13 State, Foreign Operations spending bill

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill on Thursday, The Hill's "Global Affairs" blog reports.

18 May 2012

Reformulated anti-HIV gel may be safe for use in both vagina, rectum

A change in the formulation of tenofovir gel, an anti-HIV gel developed for vaginal use, may make it safer to use in the rectum, suggests a study published online this week in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. In laboratory tests of rectal tissue, researchers from the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) found that the reformulated gel was less harmful to the lining of the rectum than the original vaginal formulation, and just as effective in protecting cells against HIV.

17 May 2012

FDA approval of TDF/FTC as PrEP for HIV infection receives support

In public comments submitted this week, a group of 14 leading HIV/AIDS and health organizations stated their support for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC or Truvada) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection in adult men and women.

2 May 2012

International Microbicides Conference 2012 concludes

The conclusion of the 2012 International Microbicides Conference, a gathering of researchers, advocates and funders in the HIV prevention field, wrapped up three days of discussion focused on access to prevention technologies, adherence in clinical trials, innovative financing, dual prevention technologies and new methods of preventing rectal transmission of HIV.

26 Apr 2012

Single biennial HIV prevention conference planned

This year's International Microbicides Conference, held this week in Sydney, "will be the last of its kind" because "from 2014 onwards, it is planned, a single biennial conference on all aspects of HIV prevention will be held," according to an aidsmap news story.

21 Apr 2012

Need to invest in new HIV prevention methods remains 'urgent,' International Microbicides Conference hears

"Although the research for new HIV prevention technologies has indeed made some progress, ... a formidable way lies ahead to find enough money to finish the research and to make 'from discovery to delivery' a reality for those in need of protecting themselves from HIV," CNS/Scoop.co.nz reports.

21 Apr 2012

Researchers examine impact of user experience with topical vaginal gels against HIV

Are women willing to use a vaginal gel to protect themselves against HIV infection? Researchers at The Miriam Hospital say that is the million dollar question when it comes to developing products known as microbicides that can prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.

20 Apr 2012

Researchers, advocates meet in Sydney to discuss state of microbicide, HIV prevention research

"Three decades after the full onset of the global HIV tragedy, science appears to finally be developing preventative measures, including microbicides that would thwart infections in the first place, according to individuals at" the biennial International Microbicides Conference in Sydney, the Asia Sentinel writes.

19 Apr 2012

Researchers present findings of retrospective analysis of microbicide study at international conference

"More than three years after reporting the primary results of HPTN 035, one of the last trials of the so-called first generation microbicides, researchers from the National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) reported two new sets of findings gleaned" from the study data at the International Microbicides Conference in Sydney on Tuesday, an MTN press release states.

19 Apr 2012

No added HIV risk with hormonal contraceptives

An HIV prevention trial that pre-dates the shift to antiretroviral (ARV)-based approaches is nonetheless helping to answer some of the most relevant and topical questions the field is facing today.

18 Apr 2012

Microbicide News and Research

New compounds can target RNase H enzyme in HIV

IRMA, Population Council and MTN release Rectal Revolution video project

BBC News examines HIV microbicide research

Recent release: Blogs discuss advancements in HIV preventative, therapeutic R&D

New NIAID grant to support development of topical microbicide gel for HIV and HSV-2 infections

Bill Gates stresses importance of investment in both HIV treatment and research for vaccines, microbicides

Dapivirine Phase III trial now underway in Africa to treat HIV in women

HIV in MSM increasing in countries of all incomes

International Partnership for Microbicides CEO discusses research in GlobalPost interview

Pre-exposure preventive treatment may be effective against suspected HIV

House Appropriations Committee releases draft report on FY13 State, Foreign Operations spending bill

Reformulated anti-HIV gel may be safe for use in both vagina, rectum

FDA approval of TDF/FTC as PrEP for HIV infection receives support

International Microbicides Conference 2012 concludes

Single biennial HIV prevention conference planned

Need to invest in new HIV prevention methods remains 'urgent,' International Microbicides Conference hears

Researchers examine impact of user experience with topical vaginal gels against HIV

Researchers, advocates meet in Sydney to discuss state of microbicide, HIV prevention research

Researchers present findings of retrospective analysis of microbicide study at international conference

No added HIV risk with hormonal contraceptives

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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