News Archive
IRMA Releases New Publication Menos Silencio, Más Ciencia
Translated Document to Enhance Rectal Microbicide Advocacy
in the Spanish-Speaking World
Friday, August 1, 2008
Mexico City, Mexico – International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) released "Menos Silencio, Más Ciencia" in Mexico City today at a presentation preceding the 17th International AIDS Conference.
This Spanish language version of IRMA’s February 2008 publication "Less Silence, More Science" serves as an authoritative reference on recent developments and current efforts in rectal microbicide research. The groundbreaking report describes global challenges, advocacy goals, and key strategies to advance scientific discovery on topical rectal products which confer protection against HIV transmission. As HIV incidence and prevalence increase globally, this document aims to promote the research and development of rectal microbicides among the more than 300 million native Spanish speakers worldwide.
As indicated by the publication’s title, anal intercourse remains largely stigmatized, even in medical and scientific research surrounding HIV prevention and care. This silence results in the reduction of critical discussion and study on the topic. Socio-cultural taboos surrounding anal sex restrict scientific advancements in many places, and Latin America, the Caribbean and South America are no exception.
Read the full release here.
"Making Anal Sex Safer for MSM in the Developing World"
IRMA to present at "The Invisible Men" - a pre-conference event at the 2008 International AIDS Conference
April 28, 2008
The Global Forum on MSM and HIV has announced that registration for the AIDS 2008 pre-conference event, “The Invisible Men: Gay Men and Other MSM in the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic”, is now open. The event will be held on August 1st and 2nd at the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel & Towers in Mexico City. Attendance is free of charge with around 400 people expected to participate. IRMA is pleased to be presenting the 90-minute workshop, "Making Anal Sex Safer for MSM in the Developing World" in collaboration with IRMA-ALC and others.
Click for more info on the event.
IRMA has a new sister!
IRMA-ALC [América Latina y El Caribe] Leads Scientists and Advocates in Rectal Microbicide Research and Awareness Efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean
April 24, 2008
Lima, Peru - Yes, IRMA has a new sister - IRMA-ALC (América Latina y El Caribe) - which will f
ocus on rectal microbicide advocacy and research efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. This exciting, new collaboration - with chairs from Peru, Ecuador and Brazil - was officially announced on the IRMA teleconference - "Successful Implementation of HIV Prevention Trials in Peru" - which took place today. Click here to see the slides from that call.
Says IRMA-ALC chair Jerome Galea - "In all of Latin America and the Caribbean, there are only two microbicide clinical trials underway, one in the Dominican Republic and the other in Puerto Rico; both are for vaginal products. These studies represent important steps in the advancement of microbicide research. Nevertheless, in much of Latin America, HIV is transmitted by anal intercourse, making vital the advocacy, development, testing and availability of rectal microbicides for men and women in the region. Together with IRMA, IRMA-ALC provides a framework for citizens, advocates and scientists from countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to put rectal microbicides on the regional map by disseminating information in local languages and promoting their culturally competent research and development. "
Click here for IRMA-ALC's webpage.
Media Coverage of Microbicides 2008
This compendium of media coverage of the Microbicides 2008 conference held 24-27 February 2008 in Delhi, India, was put together by the Alliance for Microbicide Development on March 4, 2008. It is not intended to be acomplete listing of all coverage of the conference but, rather, a selection of coverage from different perspectives in a range of media outlets and regions.
Read "Postcard From Delhi: The View From the Microbicide 2008 Conference" here on AIDSmeds.com - March 18, 2008.
See IRMA Materials for coverage specific to IRMA and our new report.
Rectal Microbicide Advocates Call For 5x Funding Increase
End Silence, Increase Scientific Investment Say International Rectal Microbicide Advocates
February 24, 2008
New Delhi, India – International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) released Less Silence, More Science: Advocacy to Make Rectal Microbicides a Reality in India today at the Rectal 
Microbicdes Update at the Microbicides 2008 conference. The report [color version, B&W version] serves as an authoritative reference on recent developments and current efforts in rectal microbicide research, and describes global challenges, and key advocacy goals and strategies to advance scientific discovery on topical rectal products confering protection against HIV transmission.
“Unprotected anal intercourse is a driver in the AIDS epidemic among both men and women around the world. Unfortunately, this fact is obscured by debilitating silence and stigma,” said Jim Pickett, IRMA chair. “We demand less silence and more science, and call for at least a five-fold increase in funding for rectal microbicide research by 2010, from the current US$7 million/year to US$35 million/year. Governments and foundations from Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States should partner in this critical investment in desperately needed new prevention technologies.”
Currently in development, rectal microbicides are products that could be available in the form of a cream, gel, douche or enema, that may be used to reduce a person’s risk for HIV infection from anal intercourse without a condom or provide additional protection with condoms.
“This work is so incredibly important. Every day we don’t move forward, thousands more get infected”, stated Dr. Peter Anton from UCLA, principal investigator for the world’s first rectal microbicide safety trial. “There is an ethical obligation here to advance the research and development of rectal microbicides, with good science and community awareness.”
Anal intercourse among gay men and other men who have sex with men, as well as between women and men, is recognized as an important driver of the HIV pandemic in many parts of the world. Globally, most anal intercourse is unprotected.
“It is imperative that morality not get in the way of protecting human beings and life; people of every sexual orientation have practiced anal sex since the begining of time”, stated Rick Jones of Amsterdam, representative from the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and IRMA Steering Committee member. “The time for bigotry is over. We need to help those who are not infected stay that way.”
However, research into rectal microbicides has been hampered by a deplorable lack of funding. According to IRMA, in 2006, only US$7 million/year was invested globally in rectal microbicides research. It is conservatively estimated that it will cost a minimum investment of $350 million over the next 10 to 15 years, or roughly $35 million a year to develop a comprehensive rectal microbicide research program. Therefore, annual spending must increase five-fold to ensure timely discovery and development of a rectal microbicide.
“Rectal microbicides are an essential technology that could allow men and women to protect themselves, without fear, without shame, without taboo,” stated Ghana’s Manju Chatani, Coordinator of the African Microbicides Advocacy Group and IRMA Steering Committee member.
Click the advocacy presentation "Less Silence, More Science - Advocacy to Make Rectal Microbicides a Reality" delivered by IRMA's Jim Pickett at the Rectal Microbicides Update.
Post-conference, IRMA will hold a teleconference highlighting key presentations. Stay tuned for more details, which will be first announced on the highly active listserv.
Feb 2008 UPDATE - IRMA and the GCM Address Unproven Claims of UK Lubricant Manufacturer
February 6, 2008
IRMA Member Jo Robinson of Terrence Higgins Trust brings us up-to-date on Kirklees Medical Ltd and their bogus claims on “microbicide” lubes. [See the item from September 7, 2008 for more background.]
"We’re really pleased to report that, having worked in partnership with the [UK]regulator, Kirklees Medical Ltd have now removed any ambiguous and misleading comments from their website. Now gay men and other customers can access simple factual and accurate information about their range of lubricants and sexual health information, which is a great result all round.
"For microbicide advocates in the UK and elsewhere it is also encouraging and shows that if you are patient and trust in the process you can work with great success with the regulatory authorities to challenge companies that make false claims."
IRMA Announces John Shaw Memorial Scholarship recipients
November 30, 2007
Today, the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates is pleased to announce the recipients of John Shaw Memorial Scholarships, designed to assist advocates in attending the Microbicide 2008 conference in New Delhi, February 24 - 27, 2008.
Congratulations to:
- Kadiri Etsegbe Audu - Lagos, Nigeria
- Leonardo Coleman - Los Angeles, USA
- Nesha Haniff - Ypsilanti, USA
- Marc-Andre LeBlanc - Ottawa, Canada
- Frank Gisha Mugisha - Kigali, Rwanda
- William O'Brien - Boston, USA
- Olanrewaju Olusola Onigbogi - Ibadan, Nigeria
- Shaleena Theophilus - Ottawa, Canada
- Roy Wadia - Vancouver, Canada
John Shaw was a valued, enthusiastic and delightful member of the IRMA Steering Committee for over a year. He passed away Thursday, September 27, 2007. An LGBTQ/human rights advocate for over 20 years, John was also a Person With AIDS since at least 1990. IRMA created the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund in his honor.
He is deeply missed. Click here to learn more about John
We thank the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project, and AIDS Foundation of Chicago for providing the resources - a total of US $10,000.00 - to fund these partial scholarships.
IRMWG and the GCM Question Plans for Viva Gel - Receive Response Today
November 2, 2007
The IRMWG and the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) sent a letter to the Dr. Jeremy Paull of Starpharma Pty Ltd, the makers of VivaGel, on October 26, 2007. The letter informed the company of questions among advocates regarding the agreement between Starpharma and SSL International to pursue VivaGel as a potential condom-coating product.Today, November 2, Dr. Jeremy Paull responds. Click here for his letter.
SSL International also received a copy of the same letter. We will update you once the company replies.
IRMWG and the GCM Address Unproven Claims of UK Lubricant Manufacturer
September 7, 2007
Today, the IRMWG and GCM sent a letter to the Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Authority in the UK. regarding the unproven clams of Kirklees Medical Limited. Click here to read that letter.
Read the GCM newsletter article "More Action from the Unproven Product Claims Watch" here
Click here for more background on this matter.
