A long‑lasting HIV prevention medicine that doesn't require daily pills
Official title: Systemic Sustained Release Delivery of Antiretroviral Agents for HIV Prevention
Funded at Oak Crest Institute of Science · NIH-11124152 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $726,042 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI162151-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124152 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be HIV‑negative people at substantial risk of infection who struggle with daily pill adherence or prefer less frequent dosing.
✕Less likely to help
People already living with HIV or those who cannot take tenofovir due to medical contraindications would not benefit from this prevention approach.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
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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.