Pharmacy-based PrEP to help women at high HIV risk stay on PrEP in Zimbabwe
Official title: A randomized trial to determine impact, cost and cost effectiveness of pharmacy-based PrEP on PrEP continuation for women at high risk of HIV
Funded at Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe · NIH-11366961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large randomized trial will test whether letting women get PrEP refills from local pharmacies, with support, helps them stay on PrEP and use it effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harare, Zimbabwe) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $37,728 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH140751-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women at high risk of HIV infection in Zimbabwe who are starting PrEP and are willing to collect refills from pharmacies or KP program clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who prefer clinic-only services or have barriers to pharmacy access may not experience additional benefit.
What this research studies
This study tests a practical approach to PrEP access for women at high risk of HIV in Zimbabwe by enabling pharmacy-based refill pickup alongside short-term incentives. It builds on a successful pilot (TOPAZ) and compares the pharmacy-based option to standard clinic-based PrEP services to see which keeps people on PrEP longer and more consistently. Participants will be adults who start PrEP and choose to obtain refills at community pharmacies or KP program clinics, with close follow-up and data collection on continuation, costs, and outcomes. The trial aims to inform scalable strategies to reduce new HIV infections among women in high-burden settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could make PrEP easier to access and maintain, potentially reducing HIV infections among women at high risk.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot TOPAZ showed high acceptability and promising effectiveness signals, justifying a larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sibanda, Euphemia Lindelwe — Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
- Study coordinator: Sibanda, Euphemia Lindelwe
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CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
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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.