AJPH
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Related articles in AJPH
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gross, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gross, M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Global Health
Right arrow HIV/AIDS
Right arrow Prevention
Right arrow Sexual Health
Right arrow Women's Health
July 2004, Vol 94, No. 7 | American Journal of Public Health 1085-1089
© 2004 American Public Health Association

COMMENTARY

HIV Topical Microbicides: Steer the Ship or Run Aground

Michael Gross, PhD

Michael Gross is an independent consultant, Long Beach, Calif.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Michael Gross, 315 W 3rd St #712, Long Beach, CA 90802 (e-mail: m144{at}earthlink.net).

Six HIV candidate microbicides are scheduled to enter 6 large-scale effectiveness trials in the next year. The selection of products for testing and the design of this group of trials should be reconsidered to provide an answer to a key question now before the field: Does a sulfonated polyanion, delivered intravaginally as a gel, block HIV attachment to target cells with sufficient potency to protect women from sexually acquired HIV infection?

Paradoxically, entering more candidates into more trials may confuse or compromise efforts to identify an effective product. Instead, a single trial of the most promising product(s) best serves the current candidates while also preserving resources needed to promptly advance innovative new protective concepts into future large-scale trials.


Related articles in AJPH:

HIV and Women: When Words Speak Louder Than Actions
Michael Gross
AJPH 2004 94: 1079-1080. [Extract] [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
A. B. Stone
HIV TOPICAL MICROBICIDES: THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IS FULLY JUSTIFIED
Am J Public Health, November 1, 2004; 94(11): 1845 - 1846.
[Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

HIV topical microbicides: the current development strategy is fully justified
Alan B Stone
AJPH Online, 13 Aug 2004 [Full text]
Gross responds
Michael Gross
AJPH Online, 14 Aug 2004 [Full text]

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2004 by the American Public Health Association