Lessons from family planning (FP) for the introduction of multi-purpose prevention technologies (MPTs)

The Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) is a daily pill being developed for simultaneous pregnancy and HIV prevention. With anticipated rollout of the DPP just two years away, planning for where to introduce the DPP in the private sector will be critical for ensuring access, but will hinge on where PrEP delivery is already permitted.

In this webinar, we shared new findings on private sector opportunities for the DPP in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We explored lessons and successes from the FP experience to identify how FP/SRH stakeholders can help pave the way for smooth introduction of MPTs like the DPP in private sector channels.

Recording / Slides / Resources

On October 13, 2021, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and AVAC hosted Can Fantasies Become Realties? The Quest for Multi-purpose Prevention Products, a webinar featuring global expert Dr. Sharon Hillier and others. They discussed the need for products that not only prevent HIV but are contraceptive as well, or prevent other STIs – or all of the above. Fascinating science is currently underway, with some new interventions getting closer to prime time. Like the previous webinars in this series (Butt Stuff and Pleasure Buffet) – there was a DJ and also performers.

Downloads

• Recording
• Slides

On Tuesday, 29 June 2021, the AIDS Foundation Chicago, along with community sponsors AVAC, Black AIDS Institute, Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and SisterLove, Inc., held a webinar featuring global HIV prevention research experts coupled with spoken word artistry and a smokin’ DJ (yes, a DJ!). The webinar provided a scientific update on the expansive HIV prevention research pipeline, including a wide array of molecules and modalities as well as multi-purpose technologies, from Desmond Tutu Health Foundation’s Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker. Seasoned community advocates Dazon Dixon Diallo of SisterLove (Atlanta, Johannesburg) and Black AIDS Institute’s Rob Newells (Atlanta) gave their perspectives on the pipeline with a focus on Black cisgender and transgender women and Black gay, same gender loving, and bisexual men.

Smokin’ beats courtesy of DJ Triple D and spoken word by Storie Devereaux.

Watch the recording. Access Code is required: iz5TqS2*

Any questions, please reach out to Jim Pickett at jpickett@aidschicago.org.

The development of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) has emerged in recent years as a leading strategy to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes. José Fernández Romero, a Population Council virologist, discussed the importance of MPTs designed to target different viral sexually transmitted infections and formulated for use in both vaginal and rectal compartments.

Click below to download the presentation slides.

Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs) are a fast-growing area in women’s sexual and reproductive health. On November 12, AVAC and CAMI Health co-hosted a webinar: MPT Acceptability in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa.

Webinar Materials

• Flash Animation
• PDF Slides
• Additional Q&A

The webinar summarzied methods and key findings from the market research study conducted by Ipsos Healthcare, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to assess the acceptability of multipurpose options among women in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa.

The webinar discussed:

• What women in Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa shared about sexual behavior, contraceptives and HIV prevention needs—and how this information will be used to shape the MPT agenda.
  What the research found about the acceptability of four potential MPTs (injectables, implants, intra-vaginal film, intra-vaginal ring).
• Jeff Lucas and Moushira El-Sahn from Ipsos Healthcare summarized methods and key findings from the market research data, and Bethany Young-Holt from CAMI Health moderated the discussion.

This call was one of the latest updates in the MPT field. Here are some other resources of note:

• Two weeks ago, the journal BJOG: An international Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published a suite of articles (all open access) on the future of “multipurpose” options that would provide both contraception and protection against HIV and/or other sexually transmitted infections. It is a strong series of updates related to the science and policy of new product development and an excellent overview of the state of play of this critical area of work.
• Ipsos presented an initial stage of this work last April as part of AVAC’s Research & Reality series of webinars, several of which highlighted key issues around women and the HIV prevention agenda. The archived slides and recordings are available online.
• Multiple MPT products are in the pipeline. See AVAC’s infographic, MPT Products in the Pipeline: Selected Highlights, that summarizes which MPTs are further along in testing for both sustained-release and on-demand products.

Report co-author, Dr Mary Moran, and international key commentators discussed the report’s findings and health funding decisions for the future. The first G-FINDER Reproductive Health survey reported 2013 global investment into research and development (R&D) for new reproductive health products for developing countries. It covered investment for post-partum haemorrhage, contraceptives, non-HIV STIs, multipurpose prevention technologies and platform technologies. The G-FINDER Reproductive Health survey is conducted by the independent research group Policy Cures and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information regarding G-FINDER and Policy Cures, visit www.policycures.org or contact info@policycures.org.