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PROGRAM
Microbicides

Microbicides are being developed as a female-initiated method for reducing male-to-female transmission of HIV, and possibly other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), when used during sex. A microbicide would most likely be formulated as a vaginal gel, cream, foam, or ring. If proven viable, microbicides will offer a powerful new prevention tool in the fight against AIDS.

Carraguard gel and its applicator

Carraguard is an odorless, tasteless, clear gel made from carrageenan, a derivative of seaweed.

Photo credit: Karen Tweedy-Holmes

The Population Council has worked for nearly two decades to develop safe and effective vaginal microbicides. The Phase 3 clinical trial of the Population Council’s candidate microbicide Carraguard® did not demonstrate that Carraguard is effective  in preventing male-to-female HIV transmission during vaginal intercourse.

Carraguard was shown to be safe for use during vaginal sex over a two-year period. This finding is important because Carraguard is an ingredient of next-generation microbicide candidates being developed at the Council. Several of these candidates combine Carraguard with one or more ingredients that have been shown to be effective in preventing virus transmission in laboratory settings. Carraguard is the first candidate microbicide to have completed a Phase 3 trial without any safety concerns. (news release)

Why Microbicides? (continued)


The following pages provide additional information on the Council's microbicides program:

Basic Science Research

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies

Clinical Studies

Behavioral and Social Science Research

Policy Education

What Comes Next

History of Research, 1989–Present


See Also

Contact: microbicide@popcouncil.org

Carraguard® is the Population Council's US trademark for pharmaceutical preparations, namely microbicides, for use in preventing infection.



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This page updated
8 April 2008


   

What's New

Council selects Louise Pedneault clinical director, microbicides, HIV and AIDS program. (more)

Presentations by Council researchers at the Microbicides 2008 conference in New Delhi are now available. (more)

"Disappointment in trials another lesson," 26 February 2008 op-ed from The Star, South Africa (posted with permission) (PDF)

The results of the Phase 3 Carraguard® trial have been announced. (more)

For fact sheets and other resources about the Carraguard trial, click here.

"Benefits of the Population Council's microbicides program and Phase 3 Carraguard trial" (2008) (PDFs: A4 and letter)

"Day of dialogue—Insights and evidence from product introduction: Lessons for microbicides" (2007) (PDF)

 
Population Council researchers discuss developing the Council's lead candidate microbicide, Carraguard®, in these video interviews (more).

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Publications/Resources

"The Population Council, HIV/AIDS, and microbicides," a fact sheet including additional information about the Carraguard trials (full text)

"Challenges in microbicide trial design and implementation" (2006) (PDF)

"Our current microbicide trials: Lessons learned and to be learned" (2006) (PDF)

More