Nick Partridge, Director of Terrence Higgins Trust said:

"We welcome the Government's commitment of £26 million for microbicides. The development of a microbicide would be a significant step forward in the fight against HIV, as would the discovery of an effective vaccine. But it is important to remember that these are long term strategies that will take many years to reach the people that need them and may never be successfully developed. In the short term, promoting condom use and good sex education are essential if we are to prevent more unnecessary deaths from HIV. "

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