Res. No. 39-A

Resolution urging the United States Congress to reintroduce and pass legislation that would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV and other diseases.

By Council Members Mendez, Brewer, Chin, Dickens, Ferreras, Fidler, Gentile, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Palma, Van Bramer, Williams, Nelson, Dromm, Arroyo, Crowley, Jackson, Recchia and Seabrook

                     Whereas, In the twenty-five years following the first reported case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), 40 million people worldwide are living with this incurable disease; and

                     Whereas, Over the previous decade, HIV/AIDS infections in women have grown to the point that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) now estimates that women account for half of new HIV infections worldwide; and

                     Whereas, Scientists are actively working to develop new methods of preventing HIV/AIDS infection; and

                     Whereas, Microbicides, which would give women a prevention tool that they can control, are one of the most promising new developments in this field; and     

                     Whereas, Microbicides, both vaginal and rectal, are topical products in the form of a gel, cream, film, vaginal ring or suppository that will reduce the risk of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases; and

                     Whereas, Microbicides have the potential to be an effective tool to prevent HIV; and

                     Whereas, Introduction of microbicides in 73 developing countries could, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, prevent 2.3 million HIV infections over three years; and

                     Whereas, Despite the fact that microbicides are moving into later stage clinical trials, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spends a mere two percent of its HIV/AIDS research budget on microbicide development; and

                     Whereas, There is a demonstrated need for increased federal funding and coordination of microbicide research efforts in order to speed the development of an effective microbicide that has the potential to save millions of lives; and

                     Whereas, In the 109^th Congress, then-Senator Barack Obama of Illinois introduced S. 823, the Microbicide Development Act, and Congressman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois introduced a companion bill, H.R. 1420; and

                     Whereas, The Microbicide Development Act would create a dedicated microbicide research unit within NIAID, authorize funding increases for microbicide research, and require coordination between federal research agencies such as NIAID and NIH; and

                     Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 56,300 Americans were infected with HIV in 2006, clearly demonstrating the need for new and more powerful protective measures against this deadly virus; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the United States Congress to reintroduce and pass legislation that would to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV and other diseases.

JM 

Res. No. 839/2007

LS# 128

4/19/10