Bulletin: NIAID to Fund Further Study of Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV Prevention

Bulletin: NIAID to Fund Further Study of Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV Prevention

March 13, 2016

NIAID to Fund Further Study of Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV Prevention

A silicone vaginal ring identical to those used in the ASPIRE trial. Credit: NIAID

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced today that it would move forward with an open-label extension study of an HIV prevention tool for women: a silicone ring that continuously releases the experimental antiretroviral drug dapivirine in the vagina. 

The new study builds on recently announced findings that the dapivirine ring safely provided a modest level of protection against HIV infection in sub-Saharan African women. The dapivirine ring is one of several innovative next-generation HIV prevention tools under development in the NIAID research portfolio.