Methodological Challenges in Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials

The number of people infected with HIV or living with AIDS is increasing at unprecedented rates as various scientists, organizations, and institutions search for innovative solutions to combating and preventing the disease. At the request of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Methodological Challenges in Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials addresses methodological challenges in late-stage nonvaccine biomedical HIV prevention trials with a specific focus on microbicide and pre-exposure prophylaxis trials. This book recommends a number of ways to improve the design, monitoring, and analysis of late-stage clinical trials that evaluate nonvaccine biomedical interventions. The objectives include identifying a beneficial method of intervention, enhancing quantification of the impact, properly assessing the effects of using such an intervention, and reducing biases that can lead to false positive trial results. According to Methodological Challenges in Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials, the need to identify a range of effective, practical, and affordable preventive strategies is critical. Although a large number of promising new HIV prevention strategies and products are currently being tested in late-stage clinical trials, these trials face a myriad of methodological challenges that slow the pace of research and limit the ability to identify and fully evaluate effective biomedical interventions. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummaryIntroduction1 The Status and Challenges of Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials2 Basic Design Features: Size, Duration, and Type of Trials, and Choice of Control Group3 Design Considerations: Risk-Reduction Counseling4 Design Considerations: Pregnancy5 Design Considerations: Adherence6 Design Considerations: Recruitment and Retention7 Site Preparedness8 Estimating HIV Incidence9 Interim Monitoring and Analysis of Results10 Alternative DesignsAppendix A: Public Committee Meeting AgendasAppendix B: AcronymsAppendix C: Supporting Materials for Chapter 2Appendix D: Methods for Analyzing AdherenceAppendix E: Committee Biographies