A safe, effective, and acceptable microbicide is needed in order to decisively impact the global AIDS pandemic. As such, microbicide acceptability research is of paramount importance. In order to best utilize limited financial resources and save precious development time, acceptability studies should be fully integrated into preclinical and clinical trial contexts where candidate products are being developed and tested. An integrated approach for examining theoretically valid and relevant variables is needed so that data across studies and products can more effectively advance the field. We propose an approach for measuring factors related to microbicide acceptability in each phase of product development, and dependent on what product-specific knowledge is already established in the field. We discuss the roles that behavioral and social science methodologies should play in all phases of microbicide development, as well as the challenges faced when conducting acceptability research in the context of preclinical and clinical trial settings.
KeywordsMicrobicides; Acceptability; Measurement; Clinical trials; Preclinical development Each day, approximately 14,000 individuals globally are newly infected with HIV; of these, almost half are women (Boonstra, 2000;UNAIDS/WHO, 2005). Even as they face increased risk, many women have little control over HIV/STD prevention decisions. Currently, women must rely on HIV prevention methods that require the knowledge and consent of sex partners (i.e., male condom, female condom, and abstinence) (Bentley et al., 2000;Mason et al., 2003;Wulf, Frost, & Darroch, 1999).Microbicides could change this reality. While the focus has primarily been on developing topical vaginal microbicides, rectal microbicides will likely also have a significant impact on HIV infection rates among both women and men. By developing a product that can be used overtly or covertly (i.e., with or without a partner's knowledge, awareness, or consent), individuals can control their own protection against HIV and, potentially, other STDs. Although not all individuals want or need to use a product covertly, researchers and advocates are particularly interested in the possibility that microbicides could place prevention control in the hands of those who need it. The possibility of covert use would be particularly valuable
NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript in relationships and cultural systems where gender norms or social status limit one's ability to exert control over the timing or frequency of sexual acts. Microbicides containing contraceptive agents may also facilitate fertility regulation.Currently, there are nearly three dozen microbicide candidates in active preclinical and approximately one dozen in clinical development, representing a wide array of potential HIV prevention strategies (Finley, Plescia, Harrison, & des Vignes, 2006). Various biologic strategies to block HIV infection in the context of sexual exposure and several different delivery systems to dep...