Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02414 SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF CELLULOSE ACETATE PHTHALATE (CAP) AGAINST VAGINAL TRANSMISSION OF SIMIAN/HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUSES IN RHESUS MACAQUES

Boadi, Tina*
Ratterree, M**, Gettie, A*, Neurath, AR***, Blanchard, J** and Cheng-Mayer, C*
*Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10016; ** Tulane Regional Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433; *** New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10021

Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), a pharmaceutical excipient designed as a coating material for tablets or granules, has been demonstrated to be effective against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in mice, and to protect four of six rhesus monkeys from vaginal challenge with simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251. Formulated CAP applied vaginally to rhesus macaques was not irritating as determined by colposcopy. Serum chemistries, vaginal biopsies, bacterial cultures and vaginal pH were all within normal limits. No obvious changes in peripheral CD4:CD8 ratios or levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in plasma and vaginal fluids were detected. Thus, CAP appears to be safe in vivo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that CAP was evenly distributed after application and 20 min thereafter, but was found absent 24h after application. To assess whether CAP confers protection against primary viral strains that are transmitted in humans, infections with simian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) expressing the envelopes of X4 and R5 HIV-1 strains (SHIVSF33A and SHIVSF162P3, respectively) were performed. Replication of SHIVSF33A and SHIVSF162P3 in vitro can be efficiently blocked by CAP, with ID50 concentrations of 180 and 25 mg/ml respectively. Preliminary findings in rhesus macaques challenged with a mixture of X4-SHIVSF33A and R5-SHIVSF162P3 suggest that CAP is efficacious against both X4 and R5 SHIV viruses in vivo, and should therefore be considered as a viable topical microbicide candidate in the prevention of HIV-1 infection.

Research Assistant, Tina Boadi
ADARC, 455 First Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016 USA
(Telephone) 212-448-5114 (Fax) 212-725-1126 (E-mail) tboadi@adarc.org