AIDS experts have been in search of a microbicide, essentially a cream/gel or a vaginal ring that the women or men can use for protection against sexual transmission of AIDS. 
At a conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, this week, many scientists suggested to make use of HIV drugs to make these gels work.
"The next wave of compounds is all going to be based on antiretroviral drugs. The CCR5 inhibitors are compelling candidates as an alternative because these drugs are not being used for treatment in, for example, Africa”, said Dr. John Moore of Weill Cornell Medical College. 
When tested on monkeys, the gel showed its effectiveness for four hours. “You couldn't apply these gels in the morning and have protection in the evening", Moore said.
He further said that the approach is pretty affordable. "A single maraviroc tablet, about 300 mg, retailing for about $15 on the Internet, contains enough drug to fully protect around 15 macaques. That is broadly going to be applicable to women", he added.
AIDS infects 33 million people globally and has killed around 25 million of them, so far. In most of these cases, it was transmitted sexually.
Microbicides using HIV drugs would represent a large new market for the companies that make the drugs, which are currently used only to treat infections.