Drug Delivery Platform for the Sustained Release of an HIV Vaccine

HIV continues to be a significant health and readiness challenge for the U.S. military, with approximately 350 new infections annually and over 2,000 servicemembers currently living with the virus. HIV-positive servicemembers face restrictions on deployment due to the need for daily antiretroviral therapy, which cannot always be sustained in operational settings. This results in both operational limitations and a substantial financial burden, with treatment costs exceeding $420,000 per individual over a lifetime.While current prevention methods like PrEP are highly effective, they are not recommended for deployed servicemembers, creating gaps in protection. The reliance on continuous treatment underscores the need for a more sustainable and effective solution. Developing a long-acting HIV vaccine would address these challenges by reducing new infections, minimizing treatment costs, and enhancing military readiness. Such a vaccine would offer a long-term solution by eliminating the need for ongoing medication adherence, ultimately improving the health and deployability of servicemembers while reducing the broader impact of HIV on the military.In response, Hera Health Solutions aims to develop a novel, single-dose, sustained-release HIV vaccine delivery system utilizing a proprietary electrospun biodegradable scaffold technology. This system features a small, flexible implantable rod made from bioresorbable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) that releases HIV antigens and adjuvants over a two-week period. The implant is designed to be inserted subdermally, providing continuous and controlled antigen release without the need for multiple doses or removal procedures. The bioresorbable scaffold naturally degrades within the body, offering a cost-effective, scalable, and reliable solution for long-term HIV prevention in military and civilian populations.