The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) has developed a vaginal microbicide ring to help women protect themselves against HIV infection.
The Ring when inserted into the cervix will slowly release Dapivirine, an antiretroviral drug which works by preventing the HIV virus from making copies of itself inside a healthy cell. Dapivirine belongs to the same class of Antiretrovirals used to treat HIV and prevent mother-to-child transmission.
“Women urgently need new HIV prevention strategies like Microbicides that they can use themselves. Microbicides for women could come in many forms, such as vaginal rings, tablets or films. The Dapivirine ring, which women insert and leave in place for one month, is the first long-acting Microbicide to be tested in large-scale safety and efficacy trials for HIV prevention,” Study coordinator at the University of North Carolina Tchangani Tembo told HealthNewsNG
Researchers hope the ring will be rolled out in 2016 although the ring is designed to protect women during heterosexual sex.
Leave a Reply