Greater Private Sector Involvement Needed in Microbicide Research, Says UNAIDS Chief

S Joint UnitedNations~ Prograrmmo on H-IV/AIDS
PES REL' ASE
SUNICEFo UNDP UNFPA o UNDCP
UNESCO a WHO a WORLD BANK
US Media Office [phone]
GREATER PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT NEEDED IN
MICROBICIDE RESEARCH, SAYS UNADS CHIEF
Washington D,C.,13 March, 2000 - The search for an effective microbicide must accelerate and be
taken up by more partners, including major international pharmaceutical firms, according to Peter
Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
"Today there are 38 biopharmaceutical companies, 28 non-profit research groups, and six public
sector agencies working on microbicides, up from just a handful five years ago. Even the big
pharmaceuticals are emitting glimmers of interest," Dr Piot said. He was speaking at the opening of
Microbicides 2000, the first international conference ever held on this important new health
technology.
"Until very recently, microbicide research was being undertaken by a tiny group of small companies
and individual academic researchers, equipped with the scantiest resources," Dr Piot said. "This has
already changed, but not enough. Microbicide research has to move into the big league." He said
there is enough self-interest in the business community to warrant even more active interest from the
private sector.
Microbicides are chemical substances - in the form of gel, cream, suppository or film- which kill
viruses and bacteria when applied vaginally or rectally before sexual intercourse.
Dr Plot pointed to the positive results of acceptability studies, the existence of distribution channels
for condoms, the lower level of manufacturing skills needed to produce microbicides, and the likely
large demand as factors that would garner the attention of big business. Microbicides may be easier
to market than other prevention technology, hence their attraction for those with a commercial
interest.
In 1994 there were just a dozen compounds at the laboratory testing stage and only 8 for first safety
trials in humans. Now, just over five years later, at least 36 compounds are at the preclinical testing
stage and 20 are ready for early safety trials. Three additional compounds are being considered for
Phase ill, or large-scale trials, and one is already at that stage.
Microbicides have an added attraction in a world where nearly as many women as men are infected
with HIV: they offer women a new, unique method of prevention.
"A microbicide can allow women to protect themselves and their partners from infection without
necessarily having to secure male cooperation," said Dr Awa Coll-Seck, Director of Policy, Strategy

and Research for UNAIDS.
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