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

02610_2 STAMPIDINE IS A POTENTIAL NONCONTRACEPTIVE BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTI-HIV MICROBICIDE

D’Cruz Osmond J.
Uckun Fatih M.
Parker Hughes Institute, St. Paul, 2657 Patton Road, St. Paul, MN 55113, USA

Stampidine [2’,3’-didehydro-2’,3’-dideoxythymidine 5’-[p-bromophenyl methoxyalaninyl phosphate], a novel aryl phosphate derivative of stavudine (STV/d4T) is a potent broad-spectrum anti-HIV agent with potential as a new class of noncontraceptive microbicide. Stampidine was 100-fold more potent than STV/d4T against clinical HIV-1 isolates of non-B envelope subtypes (A, C, F and G). Stampidine inhibited the in vitro replication of 20 genotypically and phenotypically nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-resistant and 6 non-nucleoside-resistant HIV-1 isolates at nanomolar concentrations. Stampidine exhibited potent in vivo anti-HIV activity in Hu-PBL-SCID mice against a NRTI-resistant clinical HIV-1 isolate and dose-dependent antiretroviral effect in chronically feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats. Stampidine was non toxic even at cumulative dose levels as high as 8.4 g/kg and exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics in mice, rats, dogs, and cats. We investigated the potential utility of stampidine as a noncontraceptive microbicide for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV via semen. Exposure of human semen to stampidine, even at a concentration 106-times higher than its in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity had no effect on sperm functions or the viability of genital tract epithelial cells. In the rabbit model, reproductive indices were not affected by pretreatment of rabbit semen with stampidine prior to artificial insemination and gel formulations of stampidine did not induce mucosal toxicity. These attributes are particularly useful for the clinical development of stampidine (i) as a noncontraceptive anti-HIV microbicide and; (ii) as a prophylactic antiviral agent to curb the transmission of HIV via semen.

Dr. Osmond J. D’Cruz
2657 Patton Road, St. Paul, MN 55113, USA
(Telephone) 651-628-9988 (Fax) 651-628-9891 (E-mail) odcruz@ih.org