A South African based company, Kiara Health, is set to begin manufacturing vaginal rings designed to provide protection against HIV. This announcement comes after a partnership was revealed the Population Council, a non-profit organization, in collaboration with the Associated Press.
The silicone rings are currently produced a Swedish company and release a drug called dapivirine, which helps in HIV prevention. Over a dozen countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) have authorized the rings, with about 500,000 already available to women in Africa at no cost due to donations.
The annual production of the rings is expected to reach approximately one million, with the rings currently costing between $12 and $16. The developers are also working on an extended-release version that can last up to three months, thus further reducing the annual cost as well.
The rings serve as a discreet preventive option for women, providing an alternative in situations where partners may be unwilling to use condoms. The gradual release of dapivirine over a month is positioned as an additional tool for women at significant risk of HIV.
The move Kiara Health to produce these rings in Africa is seen as a significant step toward making them more accessible and cost-effective, therefore contributing to the ongoing efforts to address the HIV epidemic, particularly in high-risk populations.
The announcement of the production of these HIV-preventive rings in Africa Kiara Health provides hope for increased accessibility and affordability of these rings, contributing to the ongoing efforts to address the HIV epidemic in high-risk populations.
The rings currently cost between $12 and $16, but the developers are working on an extended-release version that can last up to three months, therereducing the annual cost. In related news, a man referred to as the “Geneva patient” has achieved a two-year remission, and his stem cell transplant for blood cancer shows potential for HIV remission.
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