THE International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), an Aids research organisation which started their operations in Drakenstein in 2006, will soon move to the James Barry Munnik House in Main Street.
The newly-built, three storey 1500 square metre office block was erected where Tafelberg Furniture did business for many years.
This building, named after a family member of the owner, advocate Dirk Hertzog, was designed to identify with the character of Main Street.
“IPM will be the only tenant. Currently, our staff work in two offices that are part of the same complex, but in different buildings. Approximately 35 people work in IPM’s Paarl office now.
“We envision significant expansion. The building is designed to accommodate the additional staff needed to support IPM’s work,” says Steve Taravella, director of communication of IPM.
A five year lease was signed recently.
Hertzog sees this development and the forthcoming lease contract with IPM as a win-win situation.
“Luckily the whole development went without problems. The Pretoria architect, WP Bosch, and I worked well as a team and Schalk Shepherd at the end did well to finalise the contract with IPM.
The building will reach completion within the next week or two and IPM will take occupation at the end of July.
IPM is working to develop the first vaginal microbicide to help women in the developing world protect themselves from HIV.
A non-propfit organisation, IPM has secured royalty-free licensing agreements from major pharmaceutical companies to develop and market certain compounds as microbicides.
“This means we will be able to make any resulting microbicide available at as low a cost as possible, making it accessible to the women who need it most,” says Steve Taravella.
