The compound, called L’644, is a member of a class of antiretroviral molecules known as gp41 fusion inhibitors, which inhibit HIV infection by preventing the virus from fusing with the surface of target cells, an early step in the HIV infection process, potentially representing a novel way to block infection.

This announcement follows a similar agreement with Merck that granted IPM a royalty-free license in 2005 to develop another compound, L’167/CMPD167, which belongs to the class of molecules known as CCR5 blockers.
>> Read the press release: English | French | Spanish

Microbicides 2008 Conference 24-27 February New Delhi, India www.microbicides 2008.com

March 1, 2008 — Last week at the Microbicides 2008 Conference in New Delhi, India, researchers from the International Partnership for Microbicides presented on their efforts to develop safe, effective, female-controlled HIV prevention options and make them accessible to women in developing countries.

Microbicides 2008 is a biennial, international conference that brings together researchers, advocates, and policy-makers from across the globe working to advance the development of microbicides – topical products that have the potential to reduce sexual transmission of HIV. The conference was held at the Hotel Ashok, Feb. 24-27. Presentations by IPM staff, Scientific Advisory Board members, and directors focused on topics ranging from clinical trial design to microbicide introduction and access.

IPM Presentations Included:

Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of IPM, participating in a panel discussion at Microbicides 2008 Photo by Brad Tytel

• ARVs in Microbicides Pipeline and Status of Testing – Joe Romano, PhD
• Industrializing Microbicides Symposium: Summary of Toxicology/Formulation Workshop – Jeremy Nuttall, MSc
  
  

• Alternative Study Designs – Zeda Rosenberg, ScD
• Pharmacokinetic Assessment of an Anti-HIV Dapivirine Vaginal Microbicide Gel (GEL-002) – Annalene Nel, MD, PhD
• Satellite Symposium: New Dosage Forms for Microbicides – Facilitated by Joe Romano, PhD
• Clinical Safety and Tolerability Assessment of an Anti-HIV Dapivirine Vaginal Microbicide Gel (Gel-002) – Shanique Smythe
  
  

Anita Garg and her poster titled 2007 Worldwide Manufacturing Capabilities Survey

• Panel Discussion: Criteria to Enable Rational Microbicide Selection for Clinical Efficacy Testing – Facilitated by Robin Shattock, MD; with Joe Romano, PhD
• Roundtable: Microbicides and HIV+ Women – Chaired by Anandi Yuvaraj
• Symposium: Development of Combinations – Co-chaired by Thomas Mertensköetter, MD
• Planning for Introduction and Access – Al Profy, PhD; Thomas Mertensköetter, MD; Youssef Tawfik, MD

• The Use of Oligonucloeotide Based Microarray Data From Human Cervical and Vaginal Epithelial Cell Lines as a Model for Characterizing the Potential Local Toxicity of Candidate Microbicides – Jeremy Nuttall, MSc
• Symposium: Developments of combination – ARVs and delivery technologies – Anita Garg
  
  

Youssef Tawfik and Thomas Mertenskoetter in front of IPM Access Forum Poster

• Building Effective Community Partnerships in Microbicides Research: A Gender Perspective with a Global Focus – Andrew Lambert
• In-Vitro Release Rate Testing (IVRT) as a Performance Test for Dapivirine (TMC-120) Vaginal Gels – Joe Romano, PhD
• Proceedings from 2007 Microbicide Access Forum – Youssef Tawfik, MD
• Using Dose Reduction Capability and the Rheological Flexibility of Micellar Nanoparticle-based Formulations to Deliver Microbicides –
  Joe Romano, PhD
• A Vaginal Gel Product Attribute Study: Market Research in the Developing World to Support Microbicide Development – Karen Douville
• Worldwide Manufacturing Capabilities Survey 2007 – Anita Garg, MSc

For more information about the conference, click here:  http://www.microbicides2008.com/invitation.asp

The Population Council, an international not-for-profit organization that conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research, has now released final results from its Phase III efficacy trial of Carraguard, a vaginal gel being tested to prevent HIV transmission to women during sex. Results from the three-year trial, conducted at three clinical research centers in South Africa, show that while Carraguard had a strong safety profile, it did not prevent HIV infection.
>> Read the press statement: English | French | Spanish

Expanding the pipeline of HIV prevention tools in development, the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) today announced that Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) has agreed to give IPM a royalty-free license to maraviroc, its newly-approved HIV treatment, as a microbicide for the prevention of HIV infection. Maraviroc, sold under the trade name Selzentry™/Celsentri®, is one of a new class of antiretroviral drugs known as CCR5 blockers, which works to prevent HIV infection by preventing the virus from gaining entry into target cells.
>> Read the press release: English | French

The theme of World AIDS Day 2007 is “leadership,” reminding us all that the fight against HIV and AIDS requires vision, innovation, and perseverance. This past year has been a difficult one for HIV prevention research. The world has seen disappointing results from trials of HIV vaccines, microbicides, diaphragms, and other efforts. Despite these setbacks, IPM remains focused and dedicated to its mission. The need for additional HIV prevention options is greater than ever and new, safe and effective tools like microbicides could benefit millions of people at risk of HIV.

Looking ahead, there is no doubt that prevention research will confront further challenges, but we cannot become discouraged. The epidemic continues to ravage communities in Africa, where AIDS is the primary cause of death. In the United States, a new HIV study released this week found "a modern epidemic remarkable for its size, complexity and reach” in Washington, D.C. And while it is welcome news that UNAIDS has revised its global estimate of the number of infections downward, even the lowest prevalence figure of 30 million infections worldwide is a public health crisis.

Phone and email are the same:
Tel: +1-301-608-2221
Fax: +1-301-608-2241
Email: info@ipm-microbicides.org