Dapivirine ring safety and acceptability study begins among adolescent girls and young women in Africa

A new study has launched to assess the safety and acceptability of IPM’s monthly dapivirine ring as well as a daily oral pill (known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP) among adolescent girls and young women ages 16-21 in Africa, who are becoming infected with HIV at disproportionately high rates. 

Led by IPM’s partner, the US National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), the REACH (Reversing the Epidemic in Africa with Choices in HIV prevention) study, also known as MTN-034, enrolled its first participant in Uganda in February 2019. The Phase IIa study will also be conducted in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, with results expected in late 2022 or early 2023.

The dapivirine ring is the first long-acting product shown to help reduce risk in large Phase III clinical trials, and is currently under regulatory review for potential rollout to women ages 18-45. 

For more information on REACH, visit MTN at mtnstopshiv.org/reach-study and mtnstopshiv.org/news/studies/mtn034.