Significance Topical prevention of HIV is designed to pharmacologically interrupt sexual transmission at the genital mucosa. Attempts at preventing transmission in women using vaginal gels have yielded disappointing results in part because of poor rates of adherence. Controlled topical drug delivery using intravaginal ring technology should improve efficacy and adherence by providing sustained mucosal delivery of antiretrovirals. In this paper, we describe a reservoir intravaginal ring that delivers tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for 1 month. The ring protected pigtailed macaques from weekly vaginal simian–human immunodeficiency virus challenges for 4 mo. The sterilizing performance of this drug delivery system supports the concept that an intravaginal ring delivering TDF could be an effective tool for prevention of HIV sexual transmission in women.

The findings support the development of a PEU tenofovir DF ring, which may provide potent and sustained protection against HIV and HSV.

No abstract

No abstract