Nilanjana Bose, New Delhi: It is World’s AIDS Day on December 1 and a vaccine for it is still a long way. However, there's yet another preventive tool worth waiting for- the microbicide.

The HIV/AIDS prevention tool, which when developed, will arm women to protect themselves against the viruses.

CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides, Dr. Zeda Rosenberg has been actively campaigning for microbicides for the last five years. “Microbicides are drugs that women could apply in their vagina. It would prevent HIV during sexual transmission,” says Rosenberg.

There are currently 11 microbicide products being tested in India and Africa. Four are on efficacy trials. “The first from some of those studies will be available in 2008. And if they work, they will be in the market as early as 2009,” says Rosenberg.

Since women are usually dependent on men to use protection when it comes to sex, microbicides will arm them to protect themselves without any help from their partners. Rosenberg says that talks have been on with the Indian government and groups working on HIV.

The worry though is that once it is ready for use, will it reach the distant corners of India? “Yes, I agree that is a valid concern and let me tell you that working for microbicides in India is not an easy job. But I have had a talk with the Indian Government and the people involved with this work.

By the time this product is out and ready for use, we will just have to convince women that this is what they have been looking for. There is no other way to do it,” says Rosenberg. With more than $160 million being used annually for microbicide development, it could be the next best hope for the world after the AIDS vaccine. And for the 5.7 million in India alone, a little hope can go a long way.