EMPRO: European microbicides project

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0356

Key words (English)

HIV; microbicides; combinatorial libraries; proclinical analysis; clinical trial

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 503558

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.2c

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

This project aims to develop new topical microbicides that block entry of HIV at mucosal sites with the aim of establishing a pipeline of candidate microbicides while taking selected microbicides through Phase I clinical trial. The project will bring together leading European experts in this field to work on an integrated programme of research. Members of the consortium have extensive expertise in analyses of molecular structure, molecular interactions, investigation of mechanisms of HIV infection, testing efficacy in animal models, development of methods for large-scale production of microbicides, mucosal delivery and the conduct of clinical trials particularly in developing countries. The programme builds on this strength and describes novel approaches to develop new microbicides. Novel molecules and combinatorial pepticte.. polypeptide and oligosaccharide libraries will be screened for inhibitors that are specifically targeted to viral envelope proteins or host receptors. Microbicidal efficacy of inhibitors will be rigorously tested in vitro and the most promising will be formulated and tested in animal models. The developmental process for candidate agents will be target-driven according to an established preclinical selection algorithm designed to fast track the most promising candidates and/or combination. This process will not be carried out in isolation from the rest of the international field, indeed particular emphasis will be placed on development of compounds demonstrating synergistic activity with first generation compounds further ahead in the developmental process. The programme will operate like a virtual company allowing strategic developmental and budgetary decisions to be continuously reviewed. As well as identifying novel candidate microbicides, the programme should provide a rational basis for the design of 2nd or 3rd generation microbicides.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0356