Progress and Perspectives on HIV-1 microbicide development

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 497; pp. 69 - 80
• Main Authors: Alexandre, Kabamba B, Mufhandu, Hazel T, London, Grace M, Chakauya, E, Khati, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Discovery; Female; Genitalia, Female - virology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1; HIV-1 - drug effects; HIV-1 - physiology; Humans; Infectious Disease; Lentivirus; Male; Microbicides; Mucous Membrane - virology; Prevention; Sexual transmission; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - transmission; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - virology; Prevention; HIV-1; Sexual transmission; Microbicides
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.07.004

Abstract The majority of HIV-1 infections occur via sexual intercourse. Women are the most affected by the epidemic, particularly in developing countries, due to their socio-economic dependence on men and the fact that they are often victims of gender based sexual violence. Despite significant efforts that resulted in the reduction of infection rates in some countries, there is still need for effective prevention methods against the virus. One of these methods for preventing sexual transmission in women is the use of microbicides. In this review we provide a summary of the progress made toward the discovery of affordable and effective HIV-1 microbicides and suggest future directions. We show that there is a wide range of compounds that have been proposed as potential microbicides. Although most of them have so far failed to show protection in humans, there are many promising ones currently in pre-clinical studies and in clinical trials.