CHAARM

Description

CHAARM is a large scale collaborative project co-funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development. It is a consortium of 31 partners from academic institutions, research organizations, small and medium enterprises, and larger industries, representing 9 different countries. The main objective of this project is to develop combinations of highly active specifically targeted microbicides for vaginal and rectal application. We intend to investigate the microbicide potential of protease inhibitors and to test them in combination with inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and/or integrase and/or fusion inhibitors. The rationale for investigating combinations is both to increase the barrier to development of resistance and to increase efficacy through additive or synergistic effects. After stringent testing in vitro for efficacy and safety, the most successful combinations will be formulated and tested in macaque challenge models. In addition to investigating novel combinations of established compounds, we propose to develop new microbicides aimed at established and new targets to maintain the pipeline of promising highly targeted compounds. In parallel, studies of mucosal biomarkers will be performed to determine parameters associated with health and provide a basis for assessments of changes likely to be associated with mucosal damage.