IPM is studying and testing a number of potential drugs and innovative drug delivery methods, among them:

	Dapivirine – Vaginal Gel: IPM is conducting microbicide safety trials at clinical sites in Belgium, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania to test the safety and acceptability of dapivirine (TMC120 gel), an antiretroviral compound designed to prevent or interrupt HIV replication in human cells.
	Dapivirine – Vaginal Ring Delivery: IPM is researching dapivirine’s use in an innovative vaginal ring delivery system following two successful safety studies (IPM001 in 2004 and IPM008 in 2005) which showed the rings to be a viable drug delivery method. An effective vaginal ring delivery system could be highly beneficial to women by offering them extended HIV protection, possibly for weeks or even months.
	Other Drugs: IPM is developing additional compounds licensed from Merck & Co, Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb and is continuing to expand its pipeline so that more clinical trials in the future will be conducted using new drugs and/or combinations of drugs.

>> View a complete list of IPM clinical trials and their status

Partnering with Local Communities

Clinical research must be conducted in full partnership with host-country communities. In all aspects of clinical trial planning, IPM works closely with local partners on protocol development, recruitment and implementation. Additionally, every IPM-sponsored trial site works with a community advisory board to learn about community perspectives and to engage community members as partners. IPM works closely with local policy makers to foster ownership and commitment to the clinical trial process for all of its clinical trials.

Guidelines for Conducting Clinical Trials

IPM has also developed comprehensive guidelines for the conduct of its clinical trials through a rigorous ethical and peer review process. These guidelines detail a commitment to provide all study participants with ongoing risk reduction counselling, male and female condoms, treatment for those who become infected with HIV during the course of the trial, and treatment and compensation in the unlikely event physical harm results from trial participation. For more information, read the Guidelines for the Conduct of IPM’s Clinical Trials.

>> Read IPM’s Issue Brief on Clinical Trials

IPM Clinical Trials
(as of June 2008)

Study Protocol	Study Name & Location	Number of volunteers	Status & Reports
IPM001	Dapivirine intravaginal ring safety Belgium	12	Completed, 2004-05 Poster (CROI 2007)
IPM003	Dapivirine gel safety Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania	112	Completed, 2005-06 Abstract (M2008)
IPM004	Dapivirine gel PK South Africa	18	Completed, 2005-06 Abstract (M2008)
IPM005B	Dapivirine gel safety Belgium	36	Completed, 2005-06 Abstract (ICAAC 2007)
IPM007	Seroconverter protocol Various	N/A	Planned, 2009
IPM008	Dapivirine intravaginal ring safety Belgium	13	Completed, 2005 Abstract (AIDS 2006)
IPM009	Dapivirine efficacy Various	TBD	Planned, 2010
IPM010	Dapivirine gel male tolerance Belgium	36	Planned, 2009
IPM011	Placebo intravaginal ring safety & acceptability South Africa, Tanzania	200	Ongoing, 2007-08
IPM012	Dapivirine gel PK Belgium	36	Ongoing, 2007-08
IPM013	Dapivirine intravaginal ring PK Belgium	60	Planned, 2009
IPM014A	Dapivirine gel safety Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania	320	Planned, 2009
IPM014B	Dapivirine gel safety Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania	320	Planned, 2008
IPM015	Dapivirine intravaginal ring safety South Africa, Tanzania	280	Planned, 2009
IPM017	Dapivirine intravaginal ring safety Belgium	46	Planned, 2009
IPM018	Dapivirine intravaginal ring PK Belgium	24	Completed, 2007 Poster (CROI 2008)
IPM020	Dapivirine gel safety United States	150	Planned, 2008
IPM021	Dapivirine intravaginal ring safety Europe	120	Planned, 2009
IPM022	Smart applicator validation study United States	113	Planned, 2008
IPM023	Dapivirine gel safety Belgium	72	Planned, 2008