Protecting Women from HIV AIDS: Dapivirine Vaginal Ring HIV Microbicide

Impact: Health Impact

Narrative

In sub-Saharan Africa, 22 million people live with HIV/AIDS. Annual mortality is 1.5 million and sexual transmission accounts for ~90% of new infections. Young women are disproportionately affected due to socio-cultural issues. Seeking to empower them with an urgently needed female initiated protective method, Malcolm & Woolfson developed the first antiretroviral (AR) microbicide vaginal ring (VR), which provides slow, continuous release of dapivirine for long-lasting protection against vaginal HIV transmission. Consequently, global microbicide development strategies were transformed, with the focus shifted from immediate-use gels to long-acting VRs. In August 2012, the dapivirine VR commenced final stage (Phase III) clinical trials in Africa.
Impact statusOngoing
Category of impactHealth Impact

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