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Rebecca Voelker

JAMA. 2006;296:753-755.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

For years, the road toward development of a safe, effective anti-HIV microbicide seemingly has been strewn with disappointment and setbacks. Nonoxynol-9, the spermicide heralded as a promising vaginal microbicide, fell by the wayside after a number of animal and clinical studies produced conflicting or negative results. Few other compounds were under active development, research funding was scarce, and pharmaceutical manufacturers were less than eager to leap into the field.

But after a trip back to the proverbial drawing board, experts say there is reason for optimism that a safe, effective topical anti-HIV microbicide will be developed and licensed in the not-too-distant future.

Five microbicidal agents currently are being examined in 6 clinical efficacy trials, another dozen or so are in earlier phases of clinical study, and more than 60 products or compounds are under development. The research pipeline holds additional promise in antiretroviral drugs such as tenofovir that . . . [Full Text of this Article]

CANDIDATES IN EFFICACY TRIALS