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

02639_1 PRECLINICAL EVALUATION OF LEAD CANDIDATE POLYANIONIC MICROBICIDES

Watts, Patricia
Wallace, G., Griffin, G., Shattock, R.
St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, England.

Background: With 5 million new cases of HIV-1 in 2002, there is an urgent need for strategies to reduce its transmission. The potential of microbicides to reduce transmission across mucosal surfaces has been clearly identified, and some agents are currently under evaluation in clinical trials. Many of these “first generation” microbicides consist of polyanionic compounds. We have evaluated a panel of polyanions, including PRO 2000 and dextrin sulphate, to determine their mechanism of action and efficacy in different model systems.

Methods: In vitro activity of compounds was determined using both cell-based assays and an established ex-vivo, human cervical explant model.

Results: Pretreatment of viral strains prior to culture with permissive cells demonstrated differential activity, with compounds being more active against an X4 (HIV-1 RF) than an R5 (HIV-1 BaL) strain. While compounds showed little or no prevention of viral binding to THP-1 DC-SIGN+ cells, the transfer of bound virus to permissive cells was inhibited, with a higher concentration of compound necessary to block transfer of the R5 strain compared to the X4 strain. The presence of test compound during viral exposure demonstrated highly potent activity directed towards both viral phenotypes, with some differential activity also observed. Additionally, the infection of cervical explants with HIV-1 BaL was significantly inhibited when exposure occurred in the presence of compound.

Discussion: Polyanion compounds such as PRO 2000 and dextrin sulphate demonstrate highly potent activity against HIV-1 when present during viral exposure and thus show promise as candidate microbicides about to enter Phase III clinical trials.

Miss Patricia Watts
Infectious Diseases, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, SW17 0RE. UK
(Telephone) +44 20 8725 5856 (Fax) +44 20 8725 3487 (E-mail) p.watts@sghms.ac.uk