Microbicides are topical products for vaginal or rectal use that are designed to prevent HIV infection.

Microbicides are considered to be a woman-friendly technology that will allow the receptive partner to have more autonomy in protecting herself against HIV infection. Rectal products empower both women and men who have receptive anal sex.

This page has links to current research projects and results, and to microbicide research organisations and partnerships.

Please note these links will take you to external websites.

Current research

M2012 Conference The next International Microbicides conference will be held in Sydney from 15-18 April 2012. For further information, please contact John Kaldor, on jkaldor@nchecr.unsw.edu.au

Results of the CAPRISA 004 A vaginal gel containing the antiretroviral drug tenofovir (Viread) reduced the risk of HIV infection among women who received it by 39%. Download a report of the trial (PDF 1.5 MB)

MDP 301 Trial Final results from the largest ever clinical trial of a HIV vaginal microbicide have been released showing it did not reduce the risk of HIV infection in women.

New funding for rectal microbicides A total of $17.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been awarded to conduct two new studies on the development of rectal microbicides.

The anal canal This recent presentation from Dr. Ross Cranston, University of Pittsburgh, discusses the anal canal as an important transition zone for rectal microbicide development.

Useful Links

Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) GCM is a network of advocates and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) working to ensure the ethical and accelerated development of HIV-prevention options—especially for women.

International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) IPM is a non-profit product development partnership established in 2002 to prevent HIV transmission by accelerating the development and availability of a safe and effective microbicide for women in developing countries.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) IRMA comprises over 850 advocates, policymakers and leading scientists working together to advance an agenda for rectal microbicide research and development.

Microbicides Development Programme (MDP) MDP is a not-for-profit, African-European partnership, which was established to develop vaginal microbicides to reduce the risk of HIV infection in women.

Microbicide Trials Network The Microbicide Trials Network is a US National Institutes of Health-funded worldwide collaboration of clinical trials around the world.