Avantor and Population Council Scale Up HIV Prevention Technology

The project builds on a long-standing supply relationship that originated with the International Partnership for Microbicides, which the Population Council acquired in 2022. While the original one-month ring is already approved for use in 12 sub-Saharan African nations, the new iteration focuses on improving patient adherence and reducing annual treatment costs. Clinical data indicates that the three-month design provides higher levels of dapivirine release, potentially increasing both efficacy and overall user acceptability.

NuSil, an Avantor brand specializing in medical-grade silicones, remains the primary supplier for the device’s structural components. Ensuring consistent drug delivery over an extended 90-day period requires specific material purity that the company has refined over nearly two decades of research. The Population Council submitted the device for regulatory review to the European Medicines Agency in November 2025 and intends to pursue further approvals across Africa and other regions. If cleared, the product would represent a significant shift in HIV prevention strategy for women and adolescent girls, offering a more convenient alternative to current monthly options.