South Africa: Advancing Innovative HIV Prevention Solutions to Safeguard Women’s Health
The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) was established in 2002 as a product development partnership dedicated to giving women innovative tools to prevent HIV and safeguard their sexual and reproductive health.
A Milestone in HIV Prevention
In 2020, IPM achieved a major breakthrough with the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR, also known as the PrEP ring). This long-acting HIV prevention product, designed specifically for women, received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency, marking its successful entry into the market after several approvals from national medicines regulatory agencies.
Transition to IPM South Africa NPC
In 2022, the Population Council acquired IPM, now operating as IPM South Africa NPC, an affiliate of the Population Council. Registered locally with an independent Board of Trustees, IPM South Africa NPC continues to drive innovation and access in HIV prevention.
The organization provides expertise in clinical trials, community engagement, market research, regulatory compliance, medical affairs, and ensuring product accessibility for the DVR and upcoming dapivirine-based products. These include a three-month DVR and a three-month multi-purpose vaginal ring that combines HIV prevention (dapivirine) with contraception (levonorgestrel).
Core Areas of Expertise
Clinical Trials
- Conducted over 45 clinical trials, strengthening local capacity in regions hardest hit by HIV.
- Directly benefited communities through research participation and capacity building.
Community Engagement
- Partners with local organizations to foster supportive environments for clinical trials and the introduction of new HIV prevention products.
Medical Affairs
- Trains healthcare providers and promotes education on rollout of HIV prevention tools.
Regulatory Affairs
- As the regulatory sponsor and market authorization holder of the monthly DVR, ensures compliance with safety, efficacy, and quality standards.
- Market Introduction and Product Access
- Leads a global initiative to make the monthly DVR widely available.
- Collaborates with governments, civil society, healthcare providers, donors, and implementation partners to ensure accessibility.
Vision for the Future
Expanding Access
- Focused on increasing the availability of the monthly DVR to reach more women globally.
Providing Choice
- In collaboration with the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research, IPM South Africa NPC is developing next-generation products, including:
- A 3-month DVR for HIV prevention:
- is the same size and shape as the monthly DVR, containing 100 mg of dapivirine.
- will expand options, choice and convenience for women.
- represent a nearly 60% annual cost reduction compared to the monthly DVR, which may enable broader access.
- pending approval of the 3-month DVR by the EMA, regulatory approval would be pursued in sub-Saharan Africa while considering broader access outside Africa.
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- A 3-month multipurpose vaginal ring for both HIV prevention and contraception.
- is an ethylene vinyl acetate core-sheath vaginal ring designed to slowly release the two active products. Women would insert the ring themselves into the vagina and replace it every three months, offering them a user-controlled, long-acting dual prevention option.
- These advancements aim to provide women with a diverse range of HIV prevention options, fostering agency and satisfaction in their chosen methods.
Download our IPM South Africa NPC fact sheet
