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

02699 A STUDY WITH THREE IMAGING TECHNIQUES OF VAGINAL GEL DISTRIBUTIONS

Mauck, Christine*
Nasution, M ** Barnhart, K*** Sandefer, E**** Katz, D*****
* Conrad, Arlington, Va ** Family Health International, Durham, Nc ***University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa ****Scintipharma, Inc. Lexington, Ky *****Duke University, Durham, Nc

Background: This study evaluated factors that influence vaginal distribution of microbicidal gels, and 3 techniques for imaging and analyzing these distributions: a fiberoptic probe to detect fluorescein-labeled material, gamma scintigraphy to detect radiolabeled material, and MRI to detect gadolinium-labeled material. Methods: Replens® and K-Y® were applied in a 3.5 ml bolus in 3 parous and 3 nulligravid women at each site. Vaginal distribution was compared when the woman did not ambulate after insertion to when she did ambulate, over time intervals up to 50 min after insertion. Results: Most spreading took place in the first 20 minutes. All techniques showed better spreading of KY when women ambulated, but better spreading of Replens when they did not. MRI was best able to detect the greater linear spread of Replens than KY when women did not ambulate (p=0.06) and greater linear spreading of KY when women ambulated compared with when they did not (p=0.06). The gels are known to have different rheological properties, suggesting different vaginal distributions. Scintigraphy and MRI results were generally similar but some probe results differed since it simulated penile intromission. The degree of observed spreading was greatest with the probe due to its pushing the gel into the posterior fornix. Conclusion: Gel properties interacted with ambulation and time in influencing distributions. Each of the 3 imaging techniques provides somewhat different but complementary information about vaginal formulation distributions. The choice of which to use in research will depend on the scientific context.

Christine Mauck, MD
1611 N. Kent St. #806, Arlington, VA 22209
(Telephone) 703-276-3912 (Fax) 703-524-4744 (E-mail) cmauck@conrad.org