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

02700 VAGINAL COATING BY MICROBICIDE FORMULATIONS: DIRECT MEASUREMENT IN WOMEN AND BIOPHYSICAL PREDICTION

Katz, David F.* **
Henderson*, M, Peters*, J, Walmer**, D, Couchman**, G.
Departments of *Biomedical Engineering and **Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Rational microbicide design must objectively link formulation properties to biological functionality, which depends, in part, on extent and durability of epithelial coating. We measured quantitative details of vaginal gel coating in women (custom fiber optic device), in relation to predictions of biophysical theory and experiment. Five gels with different chemical structures and biophysical properties: KY Jelly and Conceptrol (cellulose); Replens and Advantage (polyacrylic acid); and Carraguard (carrageenan) underwent paired human in vivo studies plus in vitro measurements of salient properties, flow and surface adhesion. Mathematical models of flow and adhesion were also applied. We found significant differences in measures of in vivo vaginal distribution and retention by the gels (e.g. extent, uniformity, bare spots). These related to formulation properties as interpreted using principles of biophysics. For example, initial coating by Conceptrol was less complete and uniform, and more prone to bare spots, than that by Advantage. This was predicted, in part, by differences in viscosity and surface properties (whole, and diluted with simulants of vaginal fluid and semen), as explained by gel coating models. KY and Replens have distinct biophysical properties, and these are altered differently by interactions with ambient vaginal fluids – suggesting different in vivo distributions. Initial in vivo analyses confirmed this. Formulation properties interact with details of formulation application (volume, location) as well as posture and movement, in governing coating distributions. (Supported by NIH AI48103, NIH HD41752 & FDA A60872).

Professor David F. Katz
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina, 27708 USA
(Telephone) 919-660-5452 (Fax) 919-660-5362 (E-mail) dkatz@duke.edu