IPM's ring study results published
The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) announced today that The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has published results from The Ring Study, a Phase III clinical trial of IPM's vaginal ring to prevent HIV. The study's key findings, announced earlier this year, show that a vaginal ring that slowly releases the antiretroviral drug (ARV) dapivirine over the course of one month safely helps reduce the risk of HIV infection in women.
Published on World AIDS Day, today's article is an important addition to the available data on the efficacy of the dapivirine ring to protect against HIV/AIDS, the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age worldwide. UNAIDS recently warned that current prevention strategies are not decreasing the rate of new HIV infections quickly enough to end the epidemic—and women are especially at risk. The dapivirine ring, developed by IPM, is the first long-acting, self-initiated HIV prevention method shown to work in two large-scale studies—IPM's Ring Study and its sister study, ASPIRE, led by the US National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN).
The Ring Study data published in NEJM show the dapivirine ring safely reduced HIV infection by 31 percent overall among all women in the trial. This is similar to primary results seen in ASPIRE, published previously in NEJM. The ASPIRE data also showed that HIV risk was cut by more than half in women over 21 and recent exploratory analyses presented in July show that among women who used the ring consistently, the risk of HIV infection was reduced by at least 56 percent. Subgroup analyses suggest the ring cut HIV risk by 75 percent or more with near-perfect use.
"The publication of the Ring Study data reinforces the growing evidence base about the ring's safety and efficacy, and its potential role in HIV prevention," said Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, founder and chief executive officer of IPM. "Women continue to become infected at alarming rates, especially in Africa, and need new options they can use to help protect their health."
Next Steps for the Ring:
- Open-label extension studies (OLEs): Two open-label studies—DREAM and HOPE—are underway in Africa to provide the ring to former Phase III participants; gain insight into when, why and how women use the ring; and collect extended safety data. The OLEs will help us understand real-world use of the ring now that women know the product is safe and helps prevent HIV.
- Regulatory submissions: IPM will seek regulatory approval for the ring. This process includes compiling a comprehensive dossier of data on the ring for regulatory agency review. IPM plans to submit the first application for licensure in Q2 2017.
- Next-generation products: IPM is developing a three-month dapivirine-only ring as well as a three-month dapivirine-contraceptive ring designed to help prevent both HIV and unintended pregnancy. Next-generation products will build on current progress by increasing efficacy and addressing overlapping health needs.
