A novel vaginal film for HIV prevention achieves one-month drug release in pigtail macaques

Introduction: Topical pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective strategy to prevent sexual acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An intravaginal monthly ring formulation of dapivirine (DPV), a safe and potent antiretroviral drug, is licensed in 11 African countries. An extended release (ER) DPV vaginal film is being developed as a low cost, discreet, and fully bioerodible alternative with the goal of decreasing costs and increasing user acceptability while achieving HIV prevention for one month.

Sravan Patel, PhD – Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute; Junmei Zhang, PhD – Research Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute; Yvonne Sweeney – Research and Development Project Manager, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington; Lane Bushman – Lab Manager, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado; Urvi Parikh, PhD – Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute; Peter Anderson, PharmD – Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado; Dorothy Patton, PhD – Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington; Sharon Hillier, PhD – ​Professor, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute; Lisa Rohan, PhD – Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute