Washington, DC (September 23, 2005) -- The Alliance for Microbicide Development and the Global Campaign for Microbicides are pleased to announce the introduction of the "Microbicide Development Act of 2005." The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Shays (R-CT) and Representative Schakowsky (D-IL).

"We need to dedicate more public health resources to developing microbicides quickly," said Representative Chris Shays of Connecticut. "In many settings, an HIV-infected woman has had only one partner: her husband. Microbicides are being developed with the goal that these products will allow women to protect themselves against the spread of disease and also allow them to conceive children. Current prevention options are not enough. If women and girls are to have a genuine opportunity to protect themselves, their best option is the rapid development of new HIV-prevention technologies like microbicides, which women can initiate."

"Microbicides could well be the first HIV prevention method that allows women to fight HIV-infection on their own. Even a partially effective microbicide could stop the infections of 2.5 million women over three years. This bi-partisan bill may be able to save a generation of women by developing this promising new preventive option," said Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.

The bill seeks to establish a Microbicide Research and Development Unit at the National Institutes of Health and strengthen microbicide activity at USAID and the Centers for Disease Control. Named one of the "10 most promising biotechnologies for improving global health," microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women could apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. Microbicides could come in a variety of forms, including gels, creams or rings that would release the drug slowly over days or weeks.

HIV infection rates among women have risen
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Contact: Annette Larkin
annettelarkin@rationalpr.com
202-429-4929
Global Campaign for Microbicides
23-Sep-2005

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