Sexually transmitted infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a leading threat to women's health and well-being worldwide. Despite global progress against the epidemic, HIV/AIDS remains the primary cause of death among women of reproductive age, and nearly 60% of new infections among adults in sub-Saharan Africa are in women. Young women in that region are three times more likely than young men to become infected with HIV. In the continued absence of an effective vaccine against HIV, researchers across the globe have focused on development of new biomedical strategies to reduce HIV acquisition rates.

Staff in the School of Pharmacy have been at the forefront of global efforts to develop products to protect women against sexually transmitted infection with HIV. Extensive research by Professor Karl Malcolm and Dr Peter Boyd has resulted in the development of a vaginal ring device offering sustained release of the antiretroviral drug dapivirine. This has greatly impacted the direction and technology within the HIV prevention field.

The QUB-IPM partnership are also currently developing multipurpose technology (MPT) vaginal ring products which simultaneously target prevention of HIV and unwanted pregnancy (https://www.ipmglobal.org/our-work/product-pipeline).