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Microbicides/Spermicides:
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Bringing to market a vaginal microbicide protecting men and women from pathogens causing STDs is a multi-faceted challenge that will require the collaboration of the public and private sectors. Collaboration also will hasten the research and development process. In an effort to bring together professionals knowledgeable in the area of contraceptive technology with potential industrial collaborators in the development of a vaginal microbicide, FHI, CICCR/CONRAD, and the IWGM organized an international conference in 1998 on "Microbicides/Spermicides: Opportunities for Industrial Collaboration." Supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, the conference aimed to promote public/private sector communication and collaboration to enhance development of vaginal microbicides. The conference was developed after two previous conferences sponsored by the Rockefeller and Mellon Foundations: the 1996 conference on "Opportunities for Industrial Collaboration in Contraceptive Research" and the 1995 conference on "Public/Private Sector Collaboration in Contraceptive Research and Development." It was among a series of conferences organized with FHI's assistance to promote the research and development of new contraceptive choices. Attendance at the 1998 conference was 87. The majority of those present were nonindustry scientists (42 percent) or industry representatives (30 percent). Others attending were: funding agency representatives (8 percent), women's advocates (6 percent), regulatory agency representatives (5 percent), other governmental representatives (5 percent), and legal professionals (4 percent). Among subjects discussed during the sessions were the latest scientific findings; challenges and advances in microbicide research; acceptability issues; assessment of consumer demand; womens' perspectives; industry views on collaborative strategies; the FDA and EU regulatory processes; and liability concerns. |
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