dapivirine

Dapivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) developed for the prevention of HIV-1 infection. It is primarily formulated as a monthly intravaginal silicone ring that slowly releases dapivirine over 28 days, providing localized pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV-1 in women. The drug acts by binding non-competitively to the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme, thereby blocking its activity and inhibiting viral replication. Dapivirine’s topical delivery via the vaginal ring results in minimal systemic absorption, reducing potential side effects and risk of resistance compared to systemic antiretrovirals. The product was originally developed by Janssen Therapeutics (formerly Tibotec Therapeutics), with further development and commercialization led by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), now part of Population Council since 2022[1][3][8][9]. Clinical trials have demonstrated that use of the dapivirine vaginal ring reduces HIV acquisition risk by approximately 27–50%, depending on adherence[1][9]. A three-month version of the ring is also under investigation[7].

Brand names

DapiRing

Other names

dapivirineDPV