Canada commits $15M to accelerate microbicide development

Silver Spring, MD – Momentum for HIV-prevention research advanced significantly last week with the announcement of a grant of $15 million from Canada’s federal government to the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM). Announced on World AIDS Day, the contribution will support product development and clinical trials of microbicides for women in developing countries. This brings the total Canadian contribution to IPM to $30 million.

“The government of Canada is to be applauded for its long track record of leadership in addressing the global AIDS epidemic. This new Canadian support will enable IPM to continue working toward the development of a microbicide that has the potential to save millions of women from HIV infection,” said Dr Zeda Rosenberg, IPM’s chief executive officer. “Microbicide research and development is advancing quickly, and this funding will play a vital role in supporting ongoing laboratory and clinical development efforts that will bring the world closer to the goal of a safe and effective microbicide.”

The announcement came on the same day as pledges of support to IPM from the governments of Belgium and France, for US$4 million over three years, and US$264,000, respectively.

The Netherlands announced a grant of US$15.7 million over four years announced in early November, and the governments of Ireland, Norway and Sweden have also provided increased support to IPM since the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto in August 2006. Other IPM supporters include Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Commission, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank.