March 13, 2023—The Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research has received a €10 million award over five years from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research through the KfW Development Bank. This award was made through the Product Development Partnership (PDP) third phase of funding, which will allow the Center for Biomedical Research to continue the development of three HIV-prevention products, two of which consist of multi-purpose technologies expanding protection against STIs and pregnancy. The products supported by the PDP funding will be the three-month Dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR), three-month Dapivirine-Levonorgestrel ring, and a fast-dissolving insert (FDI) containing a contraceptive and HIV prevention compound.
The three-month DVR and the three-month dapivirine-levonorgestrel vaginal ring are both key assets recently acquired by the Population Council from the International Partnership for Microbicides.
Three-Month Dapivirine Vaginal Ring
Like the approved monthly DVR, the three-month DVR is a user-controlled, self-administered vaginal ring inserted and removed every three months, and is designed for HIV-prevention. Containing the same components and manufacturing as the monthly DVR, the three-month DVR is made of a flexible silicone matrix polymer and contains Dapivirine—an ARV that is slowly released over the course of three months. It is a cost-effective form of HIV prevention that will improve access and adherence by reducing burden on women and health systems.
Three-Month Dapivirine Levonorgestrel Ring
Similar to the DVR, the three-month DVR is a user-controlled, self-administered vaginal ring inserted and removed every three months. The 3-month DVR combines the HIV prevention technology of the 3-month DVR with levonorgestrel to simultaneously provide pregnancy prevention. The 3-month vaginal ring allows users expanded prevention providing the convenience of receiving dual protection within one device.
Fast-Dissolving Insert (FDI)
The Fast-Dissolving Insert (FDI) is a self-administered insert for on-demand prevention of HIV. This user controlled FDI is targeted to be a discreet and easy to self-administer method to be added to the HIV prevention toolbox.
“We are grateful to the German Government for this critical funding, which will support development of products that can help end the HIV epidemic,” said Jim Sailer, Executive Director of the Center for Biomedical Research. “This grant is an excellent investment because it will leverage the Population Council’s existing support to accelerate product development and approval of these critical products.”
About the Population Council
The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees. Learn more at www.popcouncil.org.
About the German Ministry of Education and Research
The German Ministry of Education and Research, often referred to as BMBF, is a cabinet ministry in the German government. The Ministry of Education and Research simultaneously provides funding for research projects and research institutions as well as sets the German education policy. Headed by the Federal Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the BMBF research funding has the goal of financing the development of new ideas and technologies. Funding is provided for projects in a wide spectrum of research areas. The range covers everything from basic research in natural sciences, environmentally friendly sustainable development, new technologies, information and communication technologies, the life sciences, work design, structural research funding at institutions of higher education to innovation support and technology transfer. Learn more about the BMBF at https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/en/home/home_node.html.
About KfW
KfW Development Bank has been helping the German Federal Government to achieve its goals in development policy and international development cooperation for more than 50 years. On behalf of the German Federal Government, KfW finances and supports programmes and projects that mainly involve public sector players in developing countries and emerging economies – from their conception and execution to monitoring their success. Their goal is to help partner countries fight poverty, maintain peace, protect both the environment and the climate and shape globalization in an appropriate way. Learn more about KfW at https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/s/enzEAua.