Founded in 2002 as a product development partnership (PDP), IPM has become an important partner in the microbicide field. By coupling the public sector’s commitment to advancing global public health with the business approach of the private sector, IPM fills a special niche in the microbicide field.

Since their inception, IPM has focused their efforts on developing antiretroviral (ARV)-based microbicides and other products in collaboration with our partners:

   -leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies

­   -philanthropic foundations

­   -local research centers in developing countries

­   -civil society organizations

­   -academic institutions

Using a “best practices” approach to its work, IPM:

­   -evaluates promising compounds

­   -designs optimal formulations

­   -conducts preclinical and clinical trials

­   -identifies appropriate regulatory pathways for products

­   -establishes manufacturing and distribution capacity to ensure access to future products

IPM also strategically engages and collaborates with advocates and global health leaders to raise awareness about microbicides and HIV prevention products worldwide.

Through their strong working partnerships at the local and national level in developing countries, IPM invests substantial resources in building health research infrastructure in parts of the world where the need for health research is greatest. 

THEIR WORK 

Microbicide Research & Development

Drug development is a long and complex process, which is especially true for innovative, first-in-class products like microbicides.

Identifying & Prioritizing Promising Compounds: Using a rigorous decision algorithm, IPM prioritizes products that are most promising in terms of potency, stability, ease of application and acceptability to women who would use them. 

Preclinical Development of IPM Products: Drug candidates selected during the prioritization process undergo preclinical studies to determine their key attributes and a favorable safety profile. 

Formulating Products for Women: One of the most important decisions made by microbicide developers is to identify product forms that address women’s needs. 

Developing Combination Microbicide Products: Consistent with advances in HIV/AIDS treatment, experts anticipate that microbicides based on a combination of ARVs may maximize their protective effect. 

IPM Research Studies: IPM conducts clinical trials, market research studies to assess product acceptability, and HIV incidence studies.  

Prioritizing Participant Safety: IPM’s first priority is to ensure the health and safety of clinical trial volunteers. 

Ethical Conduct of Clinical Trials: IPM is committed to implementing clinical trials that meet international and local standards.  

Capacity Building at Research Centers: IPM partners with a network of clinical trial sites in developing countries where the need for HIV prevention is greatest and clinical trials are carried out. 

Community Engagement: IPM ensures community involvement in all stages of clinical trials by working with local research centers to develop outreach activities for local stakeholders. 

IPM’s Clinical Trial Manufacturing: IPM’s CTM plant has provided clinical trial materials for 15 major clinical trials in Africa, Europe and North America. 

Large-Scale Manufacturing: IPM's partner, QPharma, will manufacture the thousands of dapivirine rings needed for IPM's Phase III evaluation, scheduled to begin in late 2011.   

Ensuring Access to Microbicides

The promise that microbicides represent will only be realized if women can obtain the products easily and affordably once they are available.

IPM plans for access to products from the outset of the development process to make microbicides available as quickly as possible at low or no cost.