HIV This Week

Nuttall J, Romano J, Douville K, Galbreath C, Nel A, Heyward W, Mitchnick M, Walker S, Rosenberg Z. The Future of HIV Prevention: Prospects for an Effective Anti-HIV Microbicide. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2007;21:219-39.

Topical microbicides are self-administered products for prevention of HIV transmission, and they present one of the most promising strategies for combating the HIV epidemic. The development of microbicides is a long and complicated process, with many hurdles that are unique to this class of product, including challenges in product design, in the conduct and design of clinical trials, and in obtaining licensure of a new class of products intended for use almost exclusively in developing countries. Once they have been registered, there are additional challenges to the marketing and distribution of microbicides. An overview of the types of microbicide currently in development, and a summary of the issues and the approaches being taken to address them, are provided.

Editors’ note: This is a good overview article on microbicide development in a publication that includes similar overviews of male circumcision, control of sexually transmitted infections, vaccines and HIV epidemiology.