Every four minutes, three young women will become infected with HIV—that’s close to 900,000 new infections a year. While HIV prevention research and drug development have progressed rapidly, there is still work to be done. This World AIDS Day, we reflect on our work to advance MPTs by asking the IMPT Advisory Council for their perspective on the role of MPTs in the fight to end the HIV epidemic.

HIV prevention has come to the forefront of youth activism and public health advocacy, as young people aged 15-24 account for 35% of new HIV infections worldwide. In fact, as we work to curb the HIV epidemic, they are the only age group to experience a recent increase in HIV infections. Young people are disproportionately impacted by HIV and face unique challenges in protecting their sexual health as they navigate complex biological and social transitions into adulthood. In that spirit, the FDA recently approved PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for adolescents, which has huge implications for empowering young people to prevent HIV exposure or transmission.

The field of MPTs that combine hormonal contraception (HC) and antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention has made substantial progress in the past several years. There are two such MPTs in phase I clinical trials: 1) IPM’s dapivirine and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring and 2) CONRAD’s tenofovir and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring – with several other HC + ARV MPT products on the cusp in various stages of preclinical development.

Today, on World Sexual Health Day, we at the IMPT reflect on how to work with partners to improve sexual health across the globe. There are many things that could be done, many different approaches, and many people we can work with towards this goal. Here, at the IMPT, we see multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) to be one such promising strategy with the potential to improve the sexual health – and lives – of women and their families across the globe.

As a healthcare provider, your perspective matters in the movement to advance the field of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs). Physicians, nurses, community health workers, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers are critical “gatekeepers” of health products and information with their clients and in their communities, and thus they have a big impact on their patients’ health behaviors and outcomes. Fostering a trustworthy healthcare environment has been linked to increased comfort levels and better patient health, as well as increased medication adherence.  You will be on the frontlines of ensuring the success of MPTs once they hit the market – giving patients access to such products and helping them with correct and consistent use.