The promise of public/private sector collaboration in the development of new contraceptives: the experience of CICCR

The Consortium for Industrial Collaboration in Contraceptive Research (CICC R) was established in 1995 with funding from two philanthropic foundations. Now just over 3 years later, it is supported by five foundations and a Uni ted Nations agency. Work in three priority areas of male methods, vaginal m ethods and monthly methods for women is progressing well. Collaboration wit h 10 industrial entities has been established, and more than 60 contracts w ith investigators at not-for-profit institutions have been funded. It can b e concluded that CICCR has provided an efficient and effective mechanism fo r promoting industrial collaboration in contraceptive RED, and fills a need not covered by other agencies active in the field. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.