Use of a Vaginal Ring Containing Dapivirine for HIV-1 Prevention in Women

Development of HIV-1 prevention methods is a global priority. In this randomized, controlled trial in sub-Saharan Africa, a vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral dapivirine was 27% effective in protecting against HIV-1 acquisition. More than half of the 35 million persons currently living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are women. A majority of these women reside in sub-Saharan Africa, 1 a region that has some of the highest incidences of HIV-1 infection in any population worldwide. 2 – 4 The use of antiretroviral medications as pre-exposure prophylaxis is a promising approach to the prevention of HIV-1 acquisition. 5 Several clinical trials of the antiretroviral tenofovir showed such protection against HIV-1. 2 , 6 – 8 However, in three trials involving African women, adherence to tenofovir-containing pills and vaginal gels was low, and HIV-1 protection was not shown. . . .