The global incidence of STIs is estimated at several hundreds of millions cases per year, and due to the asymptomatic nature of most infections, underreporting is likely to mask the real incidence. Most STIs can lead to severe sequelae, including infertility in both men and women. While bacterial STIs can be cured, viral STIs are managed through treatment of symptomatic disease.

• Overview of common Sexually Transmitted Infections including epidemiological trends, risk groups and factors, disease management and R&D focus.
• Comprehensive overviews of five common STIs, including clarification of key issues by international opinion leaders.
• Comparative analysis of bacterial versus viral STIs in particular with regards to disease management and goals of current therapy.
• Developmental and strategic analysis of preventative genital herpes and HPV vaccines in late-stage clinical development.


Highlights



Chlamydia, one of the most common bacterial STIs, causes up to 50% of cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a chronic infection of the female reproductive organs. Consequences of PID are ectopic pregnancies and infertility. Chlamydia and other STIs can further lead to severe sequelae in men, and also in babies born to infected mothers.





Considerable evidence suggests that STIs significantly enhance the acquisition and transmission of HIV. This is thought to be the result of biological but also behavioral factors, notably the effect of antiretroviral therapy on the quality of life of HIV patients. STI awareness campaigns should leverage from the tight link between STIs and HIV.





Despite the health and economic benefits of prophylaxis for viral STIs, there is considerable opposition to the introduction of widespread vaccination of young girls on grounds that this might lead to early initiation of sexual activity. Effective positioning of an STI vaccine might therefore prove a challenging task.



Reasons to Purchase


• Understand the epidemiological drivers of five common bacterial and viral STIs and assess the untapped patient potential offered by each.
• Elaborate successful positioning strategies for STI vaccines, taking into consideration potential social objections to mass vaccination programs.
• Develop successful STI awareness and education campaigns by leveraging the tight link between STIs and HIV.