A World Health Organization official says scientists need more funding to research a potential new weapon against AIDS.
Speaking at a conference in South Africa Monday, Joy Phumaphi said the WHO would like to see more support for the development of microbicides that could kill the HIV virus during sexual intercourse.
The WHO assistant director-general said there was consensus among scientists that funding for the research has been far too slow. She appealed for more money from pharmaceutical companies and international donors.
Five microbicide products are being tested on women in South Africa and elsewhere right now. Scientists say the results may available in two years.
More than 1,000 scientists and health experts are attending the three-day conference on microbicides in Cape Town.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
