Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) Acceptability Study

With funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO) project, Catalyst Global collaborates with Population Council and the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute on the implementation of an acceptability study of the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a multipurpose prevention technology that combines oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and an oral contraceptive, in South Africa.

DPP | Health Care Provider Support | Product Introduction | Projects

Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) Acceptability Study

With funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO) project, Catalyst Global collaborates with Population Council and the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute on the implementation of an acceptability study of the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a multipurpose prevention technology that combines oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and an oral contraceptive, in South Africa.

DPP | Health Care Provider Support | Product Introduction | Projects

The DPP Acceptability Study in South Africa is also part of a larger coalition of partners – the DPP Consortium, led by AVAC – focusing on market preparation and introduction activities for the DPP. The DPP Consortium’s efforts are supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PEPFAR.

Photo: Population Council. The image shown above includes the over-encapsulated DPP intended solely for an acceptability study and is not the co-formulated DPP.

According to AVAC, “in the near-term, a DPP could increase the uptake of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs) — decreasing new HIV infections among women in high-burden settings — and reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. A DPP could also lay the groundwork for the development and rollout of other MPTs currently in the research pipeline, such as vaginal rings, injectables, implants and films.”

The acceptability study in South Africa compares adherence, acceptability and preference between the DPP vs. two separate pills.

Study Design:

Randomized, open-label, parallel group, 2-way crossover study

Study Population: 96 women aged 16-40, at risk of HIV and unintended pregnancy

Study Site: Johannesburg, South Africa

Catalyst Global is also co-leading a technical sub-group with AVAC to develop recommendations for provider counseling messages for the DPP. These recommendations will be foundational for communication by health care providers in countries where DPP goes to market.

Funder:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Countries:

South Africa

Products:

DPP (an over-encapsulated product, containing both oral PrEP and an oral contraceptive)

Project duration:

2020-2023

“WCG Cares (now Catalyst Global) is a valued and committed partner on the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) Consortium. They have brought their deep expertise on supporting contraceptive introduction to bear on the market preparation strategy for this new multi-purpose technology. They are reliable, assiduous, and able to strategically think through complex issues.”