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

02152 MICROBICIDES AND THE DEVELOPING WORLD: SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN THE INDIAN CONTEXT

Kishore R. R.
President, Indian Society For Health Laws & Ethics, New Delhi

Each day 16,000 people contract HIV, 90% of whom live in developing countries” Fight against dreadful and devastating diseases like HIV/AIDS, and many others, contemplates concerted efforts on the part of developed and developing countries. Microbicides hold vast promise as a preventive tool against STDs and HIV/AIDS and also as a contraceptive device. Development of a suitable Microbicides therefore constitutes an effective strategy in combating these diseases, and also in the direction of population containment. In order to utilize the potential of developing world and to make a lasting contribution in this global pursuit it is necessary to appreciate their inherent concerns such as free and informed consent, safety and accuracy of the product, affordability, proper selection of the users and cultural and religious compatibility. In the area of microbicides research certain additional precautions have to be taken such as, relevance of the research for the host population, care of the research subjects in the event of research induced injuries, accessibility of the research product, confidentiality, and freedom from stigmatisation and isolation. The concerns of the developing countries are thus wide-ranging and complex, at times, displaying conflicting perspectives. The strategies evolved by the Western world have to be suitably modified — at times fresh approaches have to be evolved — in order to respond to the peculiar circumstances of the developing countries. “There is considerable potential of ethical disputes to arise where clinical research, supported by developed countries, takes place in developing countries” (The ethics of research in developing countries: a discussion paper by Nuffield Council of Bioethics, 1999, p3) Implementation, not the policy alone is the challenge in the developing countries. The acceptance of a product contemplates great degree of education and counselling. Developing countries are a major stakeholder in microbicides research and use. This paper is an attempt to identify characteristic features such as overpopulation, social inequalities, poverty, illiteracy, genderization, cultural pluralism, religious sensitivity, infrastructural constraints, legislative inadequacy and a host of other factors dominating most of the developing countries, particularly India and to suggest an ideal strategy of microbicidal development, consistent with socio-economic, moral and ethical imperatives.

Kishore R. R.
D-II/145 Kidwai Nagar (West), New Delhi-110023, India
(Telephone) +91-11-26876621 (Fax) +91-11-26876621 (E-mail) rrkishore@vsnl.com