Avantor's® NuSil® Brand Expands Partnership with the Population Council to Develop Long-Acting HIV Prevention Product
Rhea-AI Summary
Avantor (NYSE: AVTR) announced that its NuSil brand has expanded its collaboration with the Population Council to support development of a new three-month dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention. NuSil supplies high-purity medical-grade silicones used in the ring's drug-device combination design.
The collaboration builds on NuSil's prior role in supplying silicones for the approved one-month dapivirine vaginal ring, used in 12 sub-Saharan African countries for women aged 16 and older, including those breastfeeding. The new ring is designed to require only four rings per year, aiming to improve adherence, convenience, and affordability, especially in high-prevalence regions. According to the Population Council, the three-month ring was submitted to the European Medicines Agency in November 2025, and clinical studies have shown it delivers higher dapivirine levels than the monthly version, suggesting enhanced efficacy and user acceptability.
Positive
- Expanded Population Council collaboration on three-month HIV prevention ring
- NuSil silicones are critical components for three-month dapivirine ring design
- Builds on prior supply role for one-month ring approved in 12 countries
- Three-month ring aims to cut ring use to four per year
- EMA regulatory submission completed in November 2025
- Clinical studies show higher dapivirine levels vs monthly ring
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – AVTR
In the Jul 14 session, AVTR gained 6.91%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +3.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 12 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23 | Digital traceability partnership | Positive | +2.0% | Co-development of smart consumables embedding p-Chip digital traceability technology. |
| Feb 03 | Nucleic acid distribution deal | Negative | -1.8% | Strategic partnership to expand nucleic acid solutions distribution across EMEA. |
| Oct 23 | Bioprocess training partnership | Negative | -0.8% | Expanded collaboration with NIBRT to address biopharma downstream manufacturing challenges. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Partnership announcements have produced mixed reactions, with a slightly negative average move and two of three prior events trading down the next day.
Key Terms
dapivirine medical
vaginal ring medical
european medicines agency regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NuSil originally partnered with the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), which was acquired by the Population Council in 2022, to supply silicones that meet the most stringent purity requirements for use in the production of the one-month dapivirine vaginal ring. The one-month ring has received regulatory approval in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and is recommended for use by women ages 16 and up, as well as those who are breastfeeding. With the success and learnings from that initiative, NuSil is now supporting the development of the next-generation version of the ring to last up to three months.
The new, extended-duration ring aims to enhance adherence and convenience by requiring only four rings per year, compared to twelve with the one-month ring. This innovation is expected to lower annual costs and improve accessibility, particularly in regions with high HIV prevalence among women.
NuSil's high-purity medical-grade silicones are a critical component to the ring's design and its consistent drug release and mechanical performance over the three-month period. The collaboration underscores Avantor's commitment to supporting innovative healthcare solutions that address global health challenges.
"HIV remains a major global public health concern, with a disproportionate burden on women," said Uwe Winzen, SVP and General Manager at NuSil. "We are proud to partner with the Population Council on this groundbreaking initiative that has the potential to significantly advance HIV prevention efforts worldwide."
"The Population Council is committed to providing more options for women and adolescent girls to choose the HIV prevention product that works best for them. The three-month dapivirine vaginal ring allows for a more affordable, convenient, and long-acting product to protect against HIV transmission," said Kyle Kleinbeck, Senior Scientist, Population Council. "NuSil has developed and supplied high-purity specialized silicones for our medical devices and drug delivery systems for nearly two decades and we are proud to continue our collaboration to develop this innovative product and accelerate global efforts to end the HIV epidemic."
The Population Council submitted the three-month ring for regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency in November 2025, with plans to seek subsequent approvals in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the three-month ring delivers higher levels of dapivirine compared to the monthly version, suggesting enhanced efficacy and user acceptability.
About Avantor
Avantor® is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
About Population Council
The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of people around the world. Learn more at https://popcouncil.org.
Regulatory Disclaimer The three-month dapivirine vaginal ring described in this release is an investigational product and has not received regulatory approval in most jurisdictions. Any statements regarding safety, efficacy, or performance are based on preliminary or ongoing studies and have not been confirmed by regulatory authorities. There is no assurance that the product will receive approval or become commercially available.
Global Media Contact
Valerie Collado
Director, External Communications and Community Impact
media@avantorsciences.com
Investor Relations Contact
Chris Fidyk
Vice President, Investor Relations
avantorir@avantorsciences.com
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SOURCE Avantor and Financial News