Research

Microbicides

Microbicides are antimicrobial products under development for insertion into the vagina and/or rectum prior to sexual intercourse for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Formulated as gels, creams, foams, impregnated sponges, films, and suppositories, such a product holds great promise in the war against AIDS. A microbicide that is even 60 percent effective against HIV could avert at least 2.5 million infections over three years, public health experts calculate.

A leader in microbicides research, Family Health International (FHI) is responsible for the scientific management of the Microbicide Science Working Group of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN). HPTN is an international network of researchers established in 1999 and dedicated to the development and evaluation of non-vaccine methods of HIV prevention. Other contributions are through our USAID-funded investigations and our collaboration with CONRAD's Global Microbicide Project (funded by the Gates Foundation).

Working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States, 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. Additionally, we have worked to:

Identify market segments most likely to use a microbicide product
Recommend product or service delivery system modifications
Identify challenges to long-term use and ways they can be addressed through counseling or educational messages

Key result

FHI research of the contraceptive spermicide nonoxynol-9 (N-9) – once considered a promising microbicidal candidate – reversed decades of incorrect information about the product's effectiveness in protecting against STIs. FHI research to assess this product's effectiveness in preventing male to female transmission of gonorrhea and chlamydia in high-risk women found that N-9 does not protect against these infections. Based in part on these research results, the World Health Organization is revising its recommendations on N-9 use, and has drafted a policy statement highlighting the need for spermicides that are also microbicides.

For more information
See the microbicides topics page.