Microbicides: a new hope for HIV prevention.
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Date
2011-12
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Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS), is a global health concern. To control its transmission, safe sex has been proposed as one of the
strategies. Microbicides- intravaginal/intrarectal topical formulations of anti-HIV agents have also been
proposed to prevent HIV transmission. Microbicides would provide protection by directly inactivating
HIV or preventing the attachment, entry or replication of HIV in susceptible target cells as well as their
dissemination from target cells present in semen or the host cells lining the vaginal/rectal wall to other
migratory cells. Microbicides must be safe, effective following vaginal or rectal administration, and should
cause minimal or no genital symptoms or inflammations following long-term repeated usage. However, a
safe and efficacious anti-HIV microbicide is not yet available despite the fact that more than 60 candidate
agents have been identified to have in vitro activity against HIV, several of which have advanced to clinical
testing. Nonetheless, proof-of-concept of microbicides has been established based on the results of recent
CAPRISA 004 clinical trials. In this article, the trends and challenges in the development of effective and
safe microbicides to combat HIV transmission are reviewed.
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Keywords
HIV, intravaginal, microbicides, prevention
Citation
Nutan, Gupta Satish K. Microbicides: a new hope for HIV prevention. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2011 Dec; 134(6): 939-949.