LONDON - Britain pledged 24 million pounds (35.1 million euros, 45 million dollars) on Tuesday to fund trials for a gel that can prevent women from being infected by the HIV virus which leads to AIDS.
The field trials, to be carried out by the Medical Research Council and Imperial College London, are expected to begin within four months and will run for 39 months, the council said in a joint statement with the government.
More than 10,000 women in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia are expected to take part in the research.
"AIDS is the biggest killer in Africa," said International Development Secretary Hilary Benn.
"Most new HIV infections occur among young African women. Women vulnerable to infection are frequently unable to refuse sex or to insist on the use of a condom," he said.
"The 26 million pounds will fund a final stage trial of a microbicide gel that, if effective, could help women to protect themselves against HIV infection."
An additional two million pounds is being contributed by the Medical Research Council, a government-funded research body.
Sheena McCormack, a clinical epidemiologist at the Medical Research Council's clinical trials unit, told AFP that the gel, if proven effective, would stand a much better chance of being used than condoms.
"The gel is something women can use themselves," she said. "They don't have to ask men."
The gel, known as PRO2000, can be applied before sexual intercourse and prevents the HIV virus from latching onto human cells.
"The funding will take us one step further towards identifying an effective microbicide, a crucial element of our effort to reduce HIV transmission," said Janet Darbyshire, director of the clinical trials unit.
04/05/2005 15:15 GMT