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NAT Marks International Women's Day

Sunday, March 8, 2009

On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2009, NAT welcomes the UK Government’s announcement to intensify support for the development of microbicides. In February, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) renewed its commitment at an increased level to women’s health and HIV prevention research.

Funding will support the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) who are developing microbicides based on antiretroviral compounds that have proven successful in treating HIV. The announcement follows encouraging results last month of a clinical trial of the microbicide candidate PRO2000 which supports the concept that a microbicide could prevent HIV infection.
 
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT comments:
 
‘Whilst existing prevention strategies are essential, new tools such as microbicides, including those that are based on antiretroviral therapy, could offer women a powerful new way to protect themselves against HIV. 
 
Women are disproportionately affected by HIV globally, yet they still do not have a widely accepted prevention method they can initiate and control. This funding will push scientific boundaries and could give millions of women globally, and ultimately those in the UK, an opportunity to protect themselves from HIV.’


Notes to the editor:

 For further information please contact:
Katherine Sladden
Communications Officer
NAT
020 7814 6733 / 07947 725299
press@nat.org.uk
 
NAT
NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expert advice and practical resources. We campaign for change.
Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.
 
www.nat.org.uk