Microbicides Future of HIV Prevention

Posted by Jamie Robertson Dec 2, 2008

Yesterday, World AIDS Day, condoms were being handed out around the world to help prevent HIV. A few years from now, this same scene might occur with microbicides.

Microbicides will never replace condoms, but they will allow for extra protection. Women in developing countries often are not able to ask their partners to use condoms. With microbicides, women could apply an invisible layer of protection prior to sexual activity, without permission from their partner.

The addition of an effective microbicide could help avoid over a million new cases of HIV each year. Though development of such an agent is expensive and time consuming, it is far less expensive than the medical costs that would be incurred to treat those millions of people.

Learn more about microbicides.