Dapivirine Ring

Dapivirine Ring is a novel HIV prevention method that is designed to offer women a discreet and long-lasting option to protect themselves against the virus. The ring is a flexible, silicone product that is inserted into the vagina and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine over the course of a month.

Overview

The Dapivirine Ring was developed by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing new HIV prevention methods that women can use. The ring is designed to be easy to use and to provide a steady release of dapivirine to help prevent HIV infection.

Mechanism of Action

The Dapivirine Ring works by releasing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine into the vagina over a period of 28 days. Dapivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that prevents HIV from replicating its RNA into DNA, a crucial step in the virus's life cycle. By inhibiting this process, dapivirine can help to prevent HIV infection.

Efficacy

Clinical trials have shown that the Dapivirine Ring can reduce the risk of HIV infection by approximately 30% overall, and by more than 50% among women who use the ring most consistently. However, the ring is not 100% effective and should be used in combination with other HIV prevention methods, such as condoms.

Approval and Availability

The Dapivirine Ring was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2020, and by the World Health Organization (WHO) in November 2020. It is currently available in several African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, and is expected to be rolled out in other countries in the near future.

See Also

• HIV/AIDS
• Antiretroviral therapy
• Microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases