A long‑lasting HIV prevention medicine that doesn't require daily pills
Systemic Sustained Release Delivery of Antiretroviral Agents for HIV Prevention
Researchers are developing a long‑acting form of the HIV prevention drug tenofovir to protect people at risk without daily pills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oak Crest Institute of Science NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Monrovia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is creating a systemic sustained‑release formulation of the antiretroviral drug tenofovir so the medicine is released slowly over weeks or months instead of daily. The team is addressing problems seen with some long‑acting injections, such as an initial high drug burst, inability to remove the drug after dosing, and limits on which drugs can be used. They are testing new delivery approaches in the lab and in preclinical models to find safe, controllable dosing that could be given monthly or less often. If the formulation shows safety and effectiveness in preclinical work, the plan would be to move into clinical trials to test the approach in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be HIV‑negative people at substantial risk of infection who struggle with daily pill adherence or prefer less frequent dosing.
Not a fit: People already living with HIV or those who cannot take tenofovir due to medical contraindications would not benefit from this prevention approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the need for daily pills and make HIV prevention easier to use and more reliable for people at risk.
How similar studies have performed: Long‑acting injectable antiretrovirals like cabotegravir have successfully prevented HIV in trials, but long‑acting tenofovir formulations are newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Monrovia, United States
- Oak Crest Institute of Science — Monrovia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baum, Marc Michael — Oak Crest Institute of Science
- Study coordinator: Baum, Marc Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.