Microbicides: The Future of HIV Prevention

About Microbicides
Microbicides are substances currently in development that could help reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when applied vaginally or rectally. These products could fill a particularly important gap for women and gay men by providing a user-controlled method to prevent HIV and STIs. Though not yet available, researchers are working to create a microbicides that would come in a variety of forms including gels, creams, suppositories, lubricants, enemas, and even a vaginal ring that would slowly release the active ingredient.

Microbicides Advocacy

In Chicago
HIV prevention advocates across the globe are organizing to bring safe and effective vaginal and rectal microbicides to the market. To this end the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) convenes the Chicago Women and Girls HIV Prevention Coalition (CWGHPC). This coalition, comprised of reproductive health and justice, violence prevention, girls' empowerment, and HIV/AIDS organizations, advocates for the development and expansion of new and existing HIV prevention strategies for women and girls through community education, policy initiatives, and members’ ongoing work. Partner organizations include African American Women Evolving, American Civil Liberties Union-Illinois, American Medical Student Association of Loyola, University of Illinois-Chicago, and Rush University, Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network, Chicago Abused Women’s Coalition, Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago Women’s AIDS Project, Global Girls, Inc., Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, and Planned Parenthood Chicago Area.

And Around the World
Because the rectum is especially vulnerable to HIV transmission, the development of a rectal microbicide is critical to stemming the transmission of HIV through anal intercourse. Studies show that 30% of the heterosexual population, and large numbers of gay men and males who have sex with males (MSM), engage in anal intercourse around the world. The International Rectal Microbicides Working Group (IRMWG), a network across five continents, actively works to accelerate research, development, and access to safe and effective rectal microbicides.

What Can You Do to Advance Microbicides?

Urge Congress to pass the Microbicides Development Act (MDA).
Lack of funding is slowing down microbicide research. Right now, barely 3% of the U.S. budget for HIV/AIDS research is spent on developing microbicides. The MDA would coordinate and expand resources for microbicide research and development activities in the federal government. Currently, there are three separate federal agencies involved in microbicide research and development – NIH, CDC and USAID. Without overall federal coordination of the type required by the MDA, costly inefficiencies and unproductive duplication of effort will result.

Senator Barack Obama and Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Danny Davis have led the charge for the the MDA. Strong public support is still needed to ensure that the MDA becomes law. If your representative is not already an MDA co-sponsor, e-mail her or him today!

Join the Chicago Women and Girls HIV Prevention Coalition.
Coalition members receive regular updates at meetings and through e-mails about the latest in microbicides research, development, and advocacy. Each coalition meeting also features a presentation related to HIV prevention issues for women and girls by a local expert. The coalition meets every two months at AFC. Contact Jessica Terlikowski to join the coalition's listserv and learn more about microbicides advocacy in Chicago.

Host a Presentation on Microbicides.
CWGHPC Speakers Bureau members are available to present on microbicides for your organization or community group. Contact Jessica Terlikowski to schedule a speaker.

Join the International Rectal Microbicides Working Group.
IRMWG hosts regular teleconferences that are open to the public and feature presentations by world-renowned rectal microbicide researchers and advocates. E-mail Jim Pickett to learn more about IRMWG's work and to be added to the group's listserv.

Microbicides Factsheets:
Frequently Asked Questions

Reproductive Rights & Microbicides

African American Women & Microbicides

Microbicides Researchers and Advocates:
Global Campaign for Microbicides

International Rectal Microbicide Working Group

Alliance for Microbicide Development

Microbicides Trials Network

International Partnership for Microbicides

Population Council

Other New Prevention Technologies in Development:
Cervical Barriers

Vaccines

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Unproven Claims:
Magic Bullet or Menace? A spray that's supposed to prevent HIV transmission sounds too good to be true. Chicago Reader (Nov 24, 06)