The dapivirine vaginal ring has been developed as a HIV prevention method for pregnant and breastfeeding women, releasing dapivirine, an antiretroviral drug over a 28-day period to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. This method has shown promising results in clinical trials and could be an important tool for reducing the burden of HIV among women and children. Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi (Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe) joins touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES to discuss the hot topics at CROI 2023, including the development of the dapivirine vaginal ring, and lenacapivir and islatravir as delivery modalities of HIV prevention.
The presentation, ‘From Efficacy to Effectiveness: Catalyzing Rollout of Long Acting PrEP‘, was presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2023, 19–22 February 2023.
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Questions:
- What are your key highlights and takeaways from CROI 2023? (0:40)
Disclosures: Nyaradzo Mgodi has nothing to disclose in relation to this video interview.
Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media Ltd. Interview conducted by Katey Gabrysch.
Filmed as a highlight of CROI 2023
Transcript
My name is Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi from the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre. We are housed within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, which is a centre of excellence conducting clinical trials and we contribute the evidence for public health admissions.
What are your key highlights and takeaways from CROI 2023? (0:40)
What I also found impactful was the development of the dapivirine vaginal ring, which was found to be safe, tolerable and acceptable in pregnant and breastfeeding women. When we look at long acting cabotegravir, it was recommended by all for people at risk, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) mentioned that there is no data in pregnant and breastfeeding people, and there is also no data on people who inject drugs and so forth. So, I’m happy that the dapivirine vaginal ring is a step ahead, providing positive data in adolescents and in pregnant and breastfeeding women. At CROI, the results showed that it remains safe, acceptable, tolerable and very minimal amounts of dapivirine and significantly minimal amounts of dapivirine in breastmilk. Because as you know, here in sub-Saharan Africa, we really want our women to breastfeed for at least two years. Therefore, we don’t want a product that interferes with breast milk and might impact the health of the infant. Therefore, I found that very commendable and demonstrated excited that we continue giving more options and choices for women in Africa.
There was also a talk about safety in non-human primate results investigating an inset, this was one of the next generation products that are being investigated. There were also lots of discussions at CROI 2023 on lenacapivir and islatravir as delivery modalities of HIV prevention, multipurpose prevention technologies. So there was a lot in terms of HIV prevention for the marginalized populations.
Subtitles and transcript are autogenerated
