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Microbicides

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Numerous microbicidal products are under development for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Designed to be inserted into the vagina and/or rectum prior to sexual intercourse, such products have the potential to be female-controlled, enabling women at risk of HIV to use them for protection without partner consent. Microbicides are formulated as foams, gels, creams, impregnated sponges, suppositories, and films.

According to calculations by public health experts, microbicides that are even 60 percent effective against HIV could avert at least 2.5 million infections over three years. And because some women may wish to conceive a child while maintaining STI protection during sexual intercourse, noncontraceptive microbicidal formulations are also under development.

Working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States, Family Health International (FHI) has been involved in the development, coordination and implementation of numerous clinical research trials of microbicidal products to test their safety, acceptability, and efficacy in preventing HIV and other STIs.

Our organization was responsible for the scientific management of the Microbicide Science Working Group of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), an international network of researchers dedicated to the development and evaluation of nonvaccine methods of HIV prevention from 1999 to 2006. FHI currently manages operations for the follow-on Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), established in 2006.