• Microbicides
• Who are microbicides for?
• What impact would microbicides have?
• Developing microbicides
• Ethics, epidemiology and access

Microbicides

This report, by the Pharmaco-Economics working group of the Microbicides Initiative, provides an overview of the economic potential of the microbicide market. The document explores the potential size of the market, costs of development and potential returns on investment for a private investor. The study estimates a global market of US$ 0.9 billion by 2011 if used by less than 10 per cent of sexually active women and double this amount by 2020. However, if products meet a broader set of needs, such as daily hygiene, vaginal health and general protection against infection, there is potential for a market as large as US$ 5 billion.

The document outlines how both public and private investors have a crucial role to play in the next stages of microbicide development. Key aspects for success include: mobilising additional financial support from both public and private sectors; encouraging increased coordination within the field of microbicide developers to help reduce the current funding gap; and reducing uncertainty about the potential market size by ensuring demand for a product. The authors also recommend developing an integrated approach to development subsidies and intellectual property rights, to ensure public sector access to a successful product if it is developed in the private sector. [adapted from authors]

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