Technology name
Last update: May 2026Etonogestrel+ Ethinyl Estradiol + QGriffithsin Intravaginal Ring (EEQ IVR)
Developer(s)
Sponsor(s)
Not specified
Type of technology
Intra-vaginal ring
Administration route
Topical (Vaginal)
Development state and regulatory approval
Estrogens
Phase I
Under clinical investigation
Description
The EEG intravaginal ring (IVR) is a multipurpose prevention technology providing 90-day contraception and HIV PrEP. It contains etonogestrel (ETG), ethinyl estradiol (EE), and the anti-HIV lectin griffithsin (QGRFT) within a silicone matrix. QGRFT is a potent natural antiviral agent. Further, Sustained release is enabled by silk fibroin, supporting controlled delivery. This system offers effective contraception and may reduce HIV transmission and resistance development.
Developer(s)
Population Council
Founded in 1952 by John D. Rockefeller III, the Population Council is a nonprofit research group focused on population, health, and development. It helped shape global family planning policy and advanced reproductive drug development, including contraceptive implants, intrauterine systems, and vaginal rings.
Oak Crest Institute of Science
Founded in 1952 by John D. Rockefeller III, the Population Council is a nonprofit research group focused on population, health, and development. It helped shape global family planning policy and advanced reproductive drug development, including contraceptive implants, intrauterine systems, and vaginal rings.
Technology highlight
1) 90 day sustained release silicone based intravaginal ring 2) Anti-HIV and Contraceptive MPT 3) Self adminstered
Illustration(s)
Technology main components
1) Etonogestrel 2) Ethinyl Estradiol 3) QGriffithsin (QGRFT) 4) Silk fibroin
Not provided
Delivery device(s)
Intravaginal pod shaped silicone based ring
APIs compatibility profile
Cervical anesthetics such as lidocaine, contraceptives such as 17O-ethinyl-levonogestrel 17b-hydroxy-estra-4,9,11-trien-3-one, estradiol. Etonogestrel, levonogestrel, medroxyprogesterone acetate, NESTORONE, norethindrone, progesterone, estrogen receptor modulators such as RU-486, anti-endometriosis drugs such as Terbutaline, antivirals such as acyclovir and gancy clovir; blood flow increasing drugs like Sildenafil: labor inducing drugs like misoprostol; preterm labor drugs like indomethacin; overactive bladder drugs like oxybutynin, morning sickness drugs such as Bromocriptine.
Prefered molecular weight - 2,000 to 5,000.000 Da. High molecular weight water soluble polymers such as Sulfated polysaccharides such as carrageenan, particularly lambda carrageenan. Naturally occuring potent HIV agent - Griffithsin (GRFT), is a 12.8 kDa lectin protein derived from red algae is the choice of protein. Glycoproteins, peptides/polypeptides, peptide hormones, such as insulin, nucleic acid derivatives, including oligonucleotides and aptamers, glucoaminoglycans (GAGs),
Not provided
Not provided
50-75 wt%
3 different APIs : Not provided
Not provided
Scale-up and manufacturing prospects
Not provided
Precision weighing balances, sieves / powder feeders, stainless steel storage bins, jacketed mixing vessel, injection molding machine, pellet press / compactor, ultrasonic or mechanical compression tools, drilling / micro-machining system, Thermal sealing unit, drying oven / vacuum dryer, peristaltic filling systems
Cleanroom (ISO 7/8 depending on product class) Manufacturing includes: 1. Carrageenan formulation (gel / core preparation) + zinc complex formation 2. Formulating IVR using embedded groove technique or aperture-filled ring or central core ring method.
1. GPC/SEC (molecular weight distribution of carrageenan) 2. FTIR spectroscopy (functional group identification) 3. DSC/TGA (thermal properties) 4. XRD (crystallinity for drug/polymer systems) 5. HPLC / UPLC for NNRTIs (e.g., MIV-150), hormones, etc. 6. ICP-MS / AAS for zinc quantification
Excipients
Not provided
Silk fibroin
Not provided
Additional features
- Removable
- Single-use
- Molded
Release kinetics are not published yet.
Not applicable
Reported Adverse events (AEs) where 9 Grade 1 AEs (mild). In which, 7 were unrelated to ring use; 2 possibly/unlikely related; Bacterial vaginosis (during 56 mm and 66 mm ring use). Further there were no serious adverse events (SAEs) reported and discontinuations due to adverse events).
No formal stability studies (ICH, shelf-life, degradation, etc.) reported
No storage conditions (temperature, humidity, shelf-life, packaging) are specified
Therapeutic area(s)
- HIV
- Prevention
Potential associated API(s)
- Estrogens
- Antivirals for treatment of HIV infections, combinations
Use of technology
- Self-administered
Every 3 months
Not provided
Targeted user groups
- Adults
- Female
- Cisgender female
- Transgender female
Unspecified
Unspecified
Yes
Not provided
Estrogens
Hormonal contraceptive
Phase I
NCT05128136
Contraception
< 18 years old sexually active women
3 monthly
Under clinical investigation
Antivirals for treatment of HIV infections, combinations
Red algal lectin (Nicotiana benthamiana)
Phase I
NCT05128136
Anti-HIV agent
< 18 years ol sexually active women
3 monthly
Under clinical investigation
There are either no relevant patents or these were not yet submitted to LAPaL
Publications
There are no publication
Additional documents
No documents were uploaded
Collaborate for development
Consider on a case by case basis, collaborating on developing long acting products with potential significant public health impact, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), utilising the referred to long-acting technology
Share technical information for match-making assessment
Provide necessary technical information to a potential partner, under confidentiality agreement, to enable preliminary assessment of whether specific medicines of public health importance in LMICs might be compatible with the referred to long-acting technology to achieve a public health benefit
Work with MPP to expand access in LMICs
In the event that a product using the referred to long-acting technology is successfully developed, the technology IP holder(s) will work with the Medicines Patent Pool towards putting in place the most appropriate strategy for timely and affordable access in low and middle-income countries, including through licensing
Partnerships
No partner indicated
All sponsors
No sponsor indicated