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Obama Provision to Expand HIV/AIDS Research Passes Foreign Relations Committee

Friday, March 14, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

Legislation helps to speed efforts to develop disease prevention methods

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's passage of the global AIDS reauthorization bill (S. 2731) that includes provisions from his Microbicide Development Act. The Obama legislation would bolster microbicide research and development programs to help focus, streamline, and speed efforts to develop urgently needed HIV prevention products. Microbicides are a class of products under development that could be applied to prevent the spread of HIV infection. This critical legislation would formally authorize microbicide programs and strengthen and coordinate microbicide research activities at the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Agency for International Development, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"With 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and over 4 million new infections in 2006 alone, this global health crisis demands a comprehensive and immediate response," said Senator Obama. "In the United States, AIDS remains the leading cause of death among African American women, and in sub-Saharan Africa, women account for nearly 60% of HIV/AIDS cases. These skyrocketing numbers among women are a devastating public health concern, and we must urgently expand female-initiated methods of prevention. I am proud this important bill has moved forward, and I commend Chairman Biden for his leadership."

Microbicides represent a unique female-initiated method of prevention that could be a critical element in a comprehensive strategy to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. By the end of 2007, there were 65 organizations involved in microbicide R&D;, with 10 microbicide candidates currently in clinical development and over 40 in preclinical development. In fact, many prominent scientists believe that an effective microbicide could be available in the next five to ten years. With recent scientific momentum in fighting HIV/AIDS, microbicide research and development must be an important priority.