MICROBICIDES:
Raising New Barriers Against HIV Infection
Rebecca Spieler Trager
In January, the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), a nonprofit group dedicated to advancing a promising but undeveloped strategy for fighting HIV--using topical microbicides to block transmission--will open its doors. With $30 million in committed support, IPM intends to help evaluate an estimated 50 candidate compounds, clear barriers to testing, and facilitate access to microbicides that prove effective. IPM joins several other organizations supporting research in the area, but it will be the first to focus so intensely on coordinating microbicide R&D and reviewing products.