CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Short of an HIV vaccine--for which near-term hopes are dim--microbicides are the most promising tool to slow the alarming growth of HIV infections among women, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS executive director Peter Piot said Wednesday. However, he said inadequate funding is hampering their development.
"We have a much better chance of finding this local microbicide than we will have for a vaccine," said Piot. "I am more optimistic for that because the concept is clear and simple."
"What is a bit disturbing is that funding for microbicide research is not as it should be," he said, since only half of the $300 million necessary annually is actually available. "I think that should be accelerated."
The proportion of women becoming infected is growing, especially in societies where women are less able to refuse sex or negotiate condom use. The U.N. estimates 60% of almost 30 million HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa are women.
Microbicides "will be such a major breakthrough because anything in HIV prevention today depends on the goodwill and the discipline of the man," Piot said.
Some researchers believe microbicides could be on the market by 2009. Piot did not give a time frame.
Global AIDS funding is expected to reach $10 billion next year, said Piot, but the global need will have jumped to $15 billion. "The gap is growing," he said. In order to reduce treatment costs, Piot suggested a global drug pricing policy and agreements under which firms would produce drugs in the countries most affected by the disease. (Reuters)
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
These 13 major companies caved to the far right and stopped DEI programs
January 24 2025 1:11 PM
True
Latest Stories
It's time to build a sustainable future for LGBTQ+ advocacy work. Here's why
February 06 2025 7:00 AM
Democratic congressmen: Federal personnel office can't discriminate against trans Americans
February 05 2025 8:19 PM
Trump moves to ban international transgender athletes from 2028 Olympic Games
February 05 2025 5:21 PM
Donald Trump bans transgender athletes from playing sports
February 05 2025 4:15 PM
West Point military academy eliminates cadet clubs amid Trump’s diversity crackdown
February 05 2025 2:42 PM
15 Democratic state AGs stand by gender-affirming care
February 05 2025 2:39 PM
American satisfaction with state of LGBTQ+ rights reaches lowest point in over a decade
February 05 2025 2:05 PM
LGBTQ+ non-U.S. citizens at risk under Trump’s immigration crackdown: study
February 05 2025 12:56 PM
Lesbian cop wins $750k in sexual harassment lawsuit against former chief
February 05 2025 11:53 AM