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Emerging trends in funding for research and development of new HIV prevention options
K. Fisher1, C. Feuer1, B. Finley2, P. Harrison2, W. Lee3, L. Romero1, S. Vuthoori3, M. Warren1
1AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, New York, United States, 2Alliance for Microbicide Development, Silver Spring, United States, 3International AIDS Vaccine Intiative, New York, United States
Background: In 2007, the Alliance for Microbicide Development, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and UNAIDS have tracked and analyzed resource trends in new HIV prevention interventions such as male circumcision, PrEP and herpes suppression/prevention. This effort allows the field to cross-check funds allocated with developments in the clinical trials landscape, such as the expanding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) field (by mid-2009, more people will be enrolled in PrEP clinical trials than in all vaccine and microbicide efficacy trials combined) and implementation efforts such as operations research on male circumcision for HIV prevention. Collection and dissemination of annual data on R&D investments in these technologies can be used to identify trends and needs in investment, spending, and research focus and assess the impact of public policies aimed at increasing investment in new prevention technologies.
Methods: R&D data were collected on product development, clinical trial preparation , community education, and policy advocacy efforts to estimate 2008 investment levels for R&D aimed at male circumcision, PrEP and herpes suppression/prevention as new HIV prevention interventions.
Results: Funding for PrEP research increased significantly in 2008 as compared to 2007. Research into male circumcision and herpes suppression/prevention was funded in 2008 at lower levels in comparison to recent numbers reflecting the ending of a number of clinical trials. Funding came largely from U.S. government and private foundation support with modest support from European donors.
Conclusions: Future R&D investment needs analysis by the HIV prevention field is critical to determining if current funding levels are sufficient to develop new tools and implement them as prevention strategies globally. Increased resources may be required to test additional products and dosing strategies in PrEP, to fund development for products such as HSV-2 vaccines, and operations research to optimize introduction of new interventions such as male circumcision for HIV prevention.
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