Executive Summary

Researchers at the University of California-San Francisco announce they are seeking women aged 18 to 24 to participate in the first U.S. safety study of a vaginal microbicide to prevent herpes and HIV infection. VivaGel (3% w/w SPL7013) is designed to prevent herpes and HIV infection through the use of a dendrimer molecule. Herpes and HIV molecules are "caught" in the dendrimer branches and prevented from entering and infecting human cells, lead researcher Anna-Barbara Moscicki, MD, says Nov. 29. In related news, the Canadian government announces Dec. 1 a $13.2 mil. donation to the International Partnership for Microbicides to support product development and clinical trials of microbicides for women in developing countries. In August, the Global HIV Prevention Working Group issued a report encouraging increased manufacturing of microbicides to meet public need (1"The Tan Sheet" Aug. 21, 2006, p.7)...