http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080042581&ch=2/28/2008%2010:36:00%20AM

It is being touted as the biggest hope against HIV/AIDS, a cream that if applied by a woman, could prevent the transmission of the deadly virus known as microbicides. It is critical for countries like India and Africa where women don't have the right or opportunity to refuse sex or demand a condom.

Globally there are about 39 million people living with HIV, almost 50 per cent of them are women.

"Now, we have found it is safe so it is time for the study to move on to efficacy trials where we'll really know if this gel helps protect women from HIV," Smita Joshi, Senior Science Officer, National AIDS Research Institute.

Around 10-15 years back, there was a germ of an idea within the medical community, just as women used contraceptives for birth control, would it be possible for women to use something like a cream or a pill. Something that could prevent them from getting infected by HIV, this idea soon gathered momentum and thus began the research on microbicides.

Simply put, it is a vaginal gel or cream that could prevent the transmission of HIV.

Across the world, more than 50 products are in various stages of research, three are in the last phase of clinical trials.

Though hailed as the biggest hope in the fight against Aids, microbicides have had their fair share of controversies.

Last year, researchers suffered a setback when trials of a microbicide called Ushercell in Africa showed that it raised the risks of HIV rather than lowered it.

But scientists did not give up.

"It is a great hope and we need to put everything behind the development and introduction of these because this is the best and earliest hope we have. Women could use these independently without others interfering," said Dr N K Ganguly, Former Director, Indian Council of Medical Research.

AIDS is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century; so far it has baffled doctors and researchers and remains incurable. Now, scientists believe that microbicides can finally be the solution.