A vaginal ring designed to release anti-AIDS drugs has been found to reduce HIV infections in two new studies presented by the International Partnership for Microbicides at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, according to USA Today.
The rings are modeled after those that deliver birth control. They carry dapirivine, an experimental AIDS medication. The studies included a placebo ring and were conducted with 4,588 women over five African countries. The women with dapirivine rings were 27 to 31 percent less likely to contract HIV.
The studies found that the rings were more effective with women over 25 due to more consistent use. Consistent application with previous vaginal AIDS medications has been an issue, according to the USA Today piece.
IPM will conduct further studies on the ring and hopes to gain approval for use in South Africa and Uganda.
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