Breakthroughs Blog: Devices

Earlier this week, the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) and partners brought more than 25 innovative global health technologies to Capitol Hill to highlight how US government investments in global health research and development (R&D) are saving lives in the United States and around the world. Each technology displayed—whether a vaccine, diagnostic, drug, device, or nutrition solution— demonstrate how these investments not only protect the world’s most vulnerable people but also strengthen America’s own health security, help prevent pandemics, and fuel high-quality US jobs and economic growth. The exhibit offered a snapshot of a larger story of how the United States is doing well by doing good. Between 2007 and 2022, the US government invested just under $46 billion in global health R&D. These investments helped drive the development of 67 new technologies approved since 1999 for neglected and (non-COVID-19) emerging diseases. At the same time, they created 600,000 new US jobs and yielded knowledge expected to generate more than $255 billion in long-term benefits for the American economy—a six-fold return on investment. This exhibit showcased what’s possible when science, purpose, and smart policy align. Explore the exciting US-backed breakthroughs displayed below. VACCINESSingle-dose vaccines for Sudan and Marburg viruses on the rVSV vaccine platform IAVI, a nonprofit based in New York and New Jersey, is advancing single-dose vaccines for the Sudan and Marburg viruses using the proven rVSV vaccine platform, the same technology behind an Ebola vaccine that has helped contain recent outbreaks. Sudan and Marburg viruses continue to spark deadly, Ebola-like outbreaks, yet no approved vaccines or treatments exist, underscoring the urgency of this work. These vaccine candidates are being developed with critical support from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Novel oral polio type 2 (nOPV2) vaccine PATH, a nonprofit developer based in Washington state with an office in the District of Columbia, alongside the University of California, San Francisco; the Washington-based Gates Foundation; and global partners, developed nOPV2, a next-generation oral polio vaccine. nOPV2 maintains the same advantages of the original oral vaccine but has been specifically engineered to be less likely to seed vaccine-derived polio outbreaks in communities with low immunization coverage. This breakthrough, which is accelerating global efforts to end polio, also benefitted from critical development support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Next-generation malaria vaccines PATH and the University of Oxford are developing next-generation malaria vaccines designed to overcome key limitations of the currently available options and help turn the tide of this longstanding global health challenge. This work has received vital US government support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the DoD Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Naval Medical Research Command. Additional US-based partners, including Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, the Scripps Research Institute in California, and the University of Texas at Austin, alongside a constellation of international collaborators, also played a critical role in advancing this research.DRUGSPretomanid, a novel tuberculosis (TB) drugTB Alliance, a New York-based nonprofit, developed pretomanid, a groundbreaking drug for treating highly drug-resistant TB. As part of a six-month combination regimen, it has drastically reduced treatment duration and complexity for patients compared to previous regimens that required up to 20 or more pills a day—as many as 14,000 total over the course of 18 months or more of treatment. This work was backed by US federal funding from USAID and NIAID and advanced in partnership with a broad coalition of American companies, nonprofits, and universities, including AbbVie Inc. in Illinois, Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV and Other Infections in the District of Columbia, the Gates Foundation, Harvard University in Massachusetts, Johns Hopkins University, Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey, RTI International in North Carolina, Texas A&M University, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Child-friendly TB medicinesTB continues to infect millions of people worldwide each year, with children facing a heavy burden—an estimated 1.3 million new pediatric cases were reported in 2023. For decades, children with TB were treated with crushed adult pills, a practice that was difficult for caregivers and often led to inconsistent dosing. TB Alliance developed child-friendly TB medicines that are palatable, fast-dissolving in water, and precisely dosed for children, ensuring young patients finally have access to safe, appropriate, and easy-to-administer therapies. This work received vital funding from USAID and was advanced in partnership with other international donors and organizations, as well as US-based partners, including Management Sciences for Health in Virginia and Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.Inhaled oxytocin for the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage Postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, is the leading cause of maternal deaths globally. To address this urgent challenge, Monash University has developed an investigational heat-stable, inhaled powder formulation of oxytocin designed to provide the same protection as the injectable gold standard treatment. By eliminating the need for refrigeration and trained providers to administer injections, this innovation could greatly expand access to lifesaving care for mothers in low-resource settings. This work received funding from USAID and support from US-based partners, including the Gates Foundation and Johnson & Johnson, alongside other international collaborators. Monoclonal antibody therapy to prevent and treat Nipah virus (MBP1F5) The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, whose US headquarters are in the District of Columbia, is supporting the development of a monoclonal antibody therapy being advanced by California-based Servare GMP and Mapp Biopharmaceutical to prevent and treat Nipah virus, a highly lethal zoonotic disease with no approved treatments or vaccines. This work received support from the DoD Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense and Uniformed Services University, as well as USAID.Tafenoquine, a single-dose therapy for relapse prevention of P. vivax malaria & long-acting injectable malaria prophylaxisThe Medicines for Malaria Venture and GSK—whose US headquarters are in Pennsylvania— developed tafenoquine, a single-dose treatment to prevent the difficult-to-treat relapses characteristic of Plasmodium vivax malaria. By replacing multi-day regimens, tafenoquine simplifies care for patients and helps malaria-endemic countries accelerate progress toward elimination. Its development received crucial support from USAID, the DoD Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and the US Food and Drug Administration through its Priority Review Voucher Program.The Medicines for Malaria Venture, Oregon Health & Science University, and the California-based Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines are co-developing a long-acting injectable malaria prophylaxis designed to provide combination protection against both Plasmodium falciparum and blood-stage P. vivax malaria. This next-generation approach aims to offer durable, simplified prevention for people in high-risk areas. The work received important support from USAID and the Department of Veterans Affairs.Injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention Gilead Sciences, a California-based biopharmaceutical company, developed lenacapavir, a groundbreaking new HIV prevention drug requiring twice-yearly injections. In pivotal Phase 3 trials, lenacapavir demonstrated remarkable efficacy across key populations, including historically underserved groups. Developed using evidence from NIH-funded research, it offers discreet, long-acting protection, providing an alternative to daily pills or bimonthly injections and making HIV prevention more accessible and easier to sustain.  DEVICESEllavi Uterine Balloon Tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage As noted earlier, postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. The Ellavi Uterine Balloon Tamponade is a low-cost, easy-to-use inflatable device placed inside the uterus that uses pressure to rapidly slow or stop bleeding. Designed specifically for use in low-resource settings, it offers a simple, lifesaving intervention where advanced care is not always available. The device was developed by PATH and Sinapi Biomedical, with support from USAID, the Gates Foundation, and other partners.Anne® One continuous wireless vital sign monitoring platform Life-threatening pregnancy risks can too often go undetected in areas with limited resources and health care workforce. The Anne® One continuous, wireless vital-sign monitoring platform, developed by Illinois-based Sibel Health, Inc. and supported by the Gates Foundation and the Steele Foundation for Hope in New Hampshire, helps identify complications in real time, helping improve care for both mothers and babies. The technology can also enhance monitoring and care for patients of all ages, whether at home or in hospital settings. The work received key US government support from the Small Business Innovation Research program and the NIH RADx for Maternal Health Challenge, BARDA, and the DoD Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium.Monthly dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention The dapivirine vaginal ring, originally developed by the Maryland-based International Partnership for Microbicides and now advanced by the Population Council in New York, is a flexible silicone ring that users self-insert, which reduces the risk of HIV infection. The ring provides one month of protection by slowly releasing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine, offering a discreet, user-controlled prevention option. Its development received critical support from NIH, USAID, the Gates Foundation, and other international donors and partners.Microarray needle-free “button” for vaccine and drug delivery Micron Biomedical, based in Georgia, developed a microarray needle-free “button” that could one day be used for delivering vaccines and pharmaceuticals without the need for traditional injections. This innovative, pain-free solution could be self-administered, reducing barriers to vaccination and treatment. It also limits or eliminates the need for refrigerated storage, simplifies transport and storage, and produces no sharps waste, making it especially valuable for low-resource settings. This technology received US funding support from CDC and BARDA (through the New York-based Global Health Investment Corporation) and was developed in partnership with other US-based groups, including the Gates Foundation, PATH, and Emory University in Georgia.Nifty Cup Millions of babies are born each year who are unable to breastfeed because they were born prematurely or have conditions such as cleft lip or palate. In low-resource settings, commonly used feeding tools can be impractical or difficult to keep hygienic. To address this challenge, PATH partnered with Washington-based collaborators, The University of Washington School of Dentistry and Seattle Children’s Hospital, with support from USAID and Laerdal Global Health, to develop the Nifty Cup. This low-cost silicone feeding cup is durable, gentle, easy to disinfect and simple for caregivers to use—a great example of a frugal, high-impact innovation designed specifically for low-resource environments.  HEATmarker™ vaccine vial monitor Most vaccines require continuous refrigeration to remain effective, which can be a significant challenge in remote and low-resource settings worldwide. Breaks in the cold chain can lead health workers to discard perfectly good vaccines because they suspect heat damage or, worse, unknowingly administer doses that have lost potency. To solve this, PATH and New Jersey-based Temptime (later acquired by Illinois-based Zebra Technologies) developed the vaccine vial monitor, a small sticker placed on vaccine vials that changes color when exposed to too much heat, clearly indicating whether a vaccine is still safe to use, preventing waste and saving lives. This simple, low-cost innovation reduces waste, improves safety, and helps ensure lifesaving vaccines reach the people who need them. The work received crucial support from USAID.BD Uniject™ auto-disable prefillable injection system Injectable drugs and vaccines have saved countless lives, yet administering them safely in low-resource settings presents challenges—health workers require appropriate training and if reused, syringes can spread dangerous infections. With funding from USAID, PATH designed the Uniject™ system, now manufactured by New Jersey-based BD. It’s an inexpensive, pre-measured and -filled syringe that automatically disables after a single use. This technology enables health workers with minimal training to safely deliver correctly dosed injections, prevents syringe reuse, reduces product waste, and ultimately saves lives and costs.BD SoloShot™ auto-disable syringeBD and PATH also partnered on the SoloShot™ auto-disable syringe, with support from USAID, which locks after injection, also helping prevent reuse and bloodborne disease transmission. Interceptor® G2 dual-insecticide bednetAs rising insecticide resistance threatens progress against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, Zika, and dengue, the Interceptor® G2 dual-insecticide treated bednet represents an important evolution of one of global health’s most essential prevention tools. Developed by BASF, whose agriculture division is based in North Carolina, the Interceptor® G2 uses two insecticides to improve effectiveness against resistant mosquito populations. Its development was supported by the President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID, and CDC, as well as the Gates Foundation, the Innovative Vector Control Consortium, and other international partners.  DIAGNOSTICSLumify AI-assisted handheld ultrasoundLife-threatening risks during pregnancy can go undetected in areas with limited health care resources, leading to deaths, as well as complications for both mothers and their babies. But a portable, artificial-intelligence-powered ultrasound developed by Philips Healthcare, whose North America offices are located in Massachusetts, with support from BARDA and the Gates Foundation, is addressing this challenge head on by helping improve access to screening for pregnant mothers in low-resource settings.Determine™ Antenatal Care Panel; Determine™ HIV Early Detect, Determine™ HBsAg 2, and Determine™ Syphilis TP rapid testsIllinois-based company Abbott developed a rapid panel test capable of simultaneously detecting HIV, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis, three major infections that pose serious risks to maternal and newborn health. The combination platform, which could simplify testing for health systems and patients and improve testing coverage, builds on individual in vitro rapid tests for each virus, which were developed by Abbott and later procured and scaled with support from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).OraQuick™ Ebola Rapid Antigen Test, Investigational Marburg rapid antigen test, and OraQuick™ HIV Self-TestOraSure Technologies, a Pennsylvania-based diagnostics company developed the OraQuick™ Ebola Rapid Antigen Test, a point-of-care tool that enables fast, presumptive diagnosis of Ebola virus disease. By providing results in minutes, the test supports health workers in rapidly isolating patients, initiating potentially lifesaving treatment, and ensuring safe and dignified burials that reduce transmission risk. The test was developed with support from BARDA.With support from BARDA, OraSure is also advancing a similar rapid antigen test for Marburg, a related virus to Ebola that also causes sever and often fatal disease.OraSure also has an oral HIV self-test, built on the same platform as its Ebola and Marburg tests. As the first US Food and Drug Administration-approved HIV self-test, it provides discreet, rapid testing for patients at home in as little as 20 minutes. The US government has supported scale-up of this product globally through PEPFAR.Co-Dx PCR Pro™ for on-site PCR testingThe PCR Pro™ molecular diagnostic platform from Utah-based Co-Diagnostics is designed to enable health care professionals to conduct on-site PCR testing, expanding access to fast, accurate testing outside traditional laboratory settings. With test panels available for flu, COVID-19, and RSV as a multiplex test and, separately, HPV and TB, the platform—developed with support from the NIH RADx program, as well as from PATH and the Gates Foundation for specific applications—has the potential to transform decentralized testing globally.NUTRITION INNOVATIONSReady-to-use therapeutic food for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition Nearly one third of children under five worldwide suffer from malnutrition. But a ready-to-use therapeutic food Plumpy’Nut has been a game changer. Developed by scientists at Washington University in St Louis and the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, manufactured by Georgia-based Mana and New Hampshire-based Edesia Nutrition, and scaled up with support from USAID and now the Department of State, this essential mix of vitamins, milk, and peanut butter allows severely malnourished children to recover and stay recovered with just a few servings.  Vitamin A biofortified corn Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable child blindness worldwide. It impairs growth and immunity, increasing the risk of severe illness from common childhood infections such as diarrhea and measles. Corn biofortified with Vitamin A, developed by the District of Columbia-based Harvest Plus program at the International Food Policy Research institute, with support from USAID’s Feed the Future program, has been a transformative innovation. When consumed regularly, it can provide up to half of daily vitamin A needs for women of reproductive age and children. Thanks to our partners the American Society for Microbiology, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Research!America, the Innovative Vector Control Consortium, IAVI, Monash University, Philips, Co-Diagnostics, HarvestPlus, Micron Biomedical, BASF, the Medicines for Malaria Venture, TB Alliance, Abbott, Mana, BD, Zebra Technologies, Sibel Health, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, PATH, Gilead Sciences, OraSure Technologies, and the Global Health Investment Corporation for supporting this event. 

Interested in more global health innovation news? Every week GHTC scours media reports worldwide to deliver essential global health R&D news and content to your inbox. Sign up now to receive our weekly R&D News Roundup email. A prospective cohort study of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) found that the six-month, all-oral BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid)-based regimens recommended by the World Health Organization were safe and highly effective, providing critical data from real-world settings with a high burden of drug-resistant TB to support global guidelines recommending their use. The results were comparable to previous Phase 3 clinical trials testing the regimens. Further research is needed to test the regimens among other key populations, including children and people with severe forms of extrapulmonary TB.A recently published analysis found that the 2023 global supply of seasonal influenza vaccines has been stable since 2019, suggesting that production capacity was sustained through the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring seasonal vaccine production capacity is important for estimating the capacity to manufacture vaccines in the case of an outbreak of pandemic influenza because pandemic influenza vaccines are produced primarily by the same or similar manufacturers, technology, and facilities as seasonal flu vaccines. The analysis found drastic disparities in production capacity between high-income and low- and middle-income countries and found that the majority of pandemic vaccines, in the case of a novel flu pandemic in the near future, would be egg-based. The author noted that advancing novel influenza vaccines, including mRNA vaccines, could greatly improve global production capacity and pandemic preparedness in the face of pandemic influenza, given they would be faster to produce than egg-based vaccines.A team of researchers has engineered an improved paper-based device for collecting and transporting blood samples of HIV patients. In low-resource settings with limited clinical and laboratory facilities, paper-based devices have become one way that HIV patients can collect their blood to be shipped and analyzed in distant laboratories. The new device has wax-printed patterns that create precise channels and collection spots, ensuring that it consistently collects the same volume of blood and thereby reducing the chances of inaccurate readings. A clinical pilot found that the device more accurately measured the extent of HIV infection compared to the industry gold standard and was also better at detecting drug-resistant viral mutations, enabling physicians to make better care decisions.

An estimated 257 million women globally who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern contraceptive methods, leading to around 121 million unintended pregnancies globally every year—nearly half of all pregnancies. Ensuring all who wish to use contraception have access to safe, effective, and acceptable options can enable all people of reproductive potential to enjoy greater autonomy over their lives and health. To meet the diverse needs of people of reproductive age, we need a variety of new contraceptive choices, including options that are longer-lasting, more discreet, have fewer side effects, and require fewer visits to a health care provider, as well as additional options for men to take more of the burden of pregnancy prevention off the shoulders of women. In recognition of this year’s World Contraception Day, GHTC is highlighting six technological solutions in the pipeline that could enable greater access to contraception by breaking down barriers, especially for underserved populations and those in low-resource settings. 1. Next-generation contraceptive vaginal rings   Intravaginal rings—flexible silicone rings that are self-inserted into the body and release contraceptives—offer an easy-to-use, convenient, and discreet contraceptive option for many women worldwide. Today, women can choose from either a monthly or a yearly ring—the latter of which was developed by Population Council and first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. However, both ring options use a combination of the same estrogen hormone, ethinyl estradiol, and different types of progestin hormones. While these hormone options work well for many individuals, for others, they can cause side effects or risks, creating a need for rings with alternative hormones and rings that are nonhormonal. Thankfully, several next-generation rings are on the horizon.These next-generation options include two rings under development by Population Council, which use alternative hormones. The first, the three-month Nestorone®/estradiol intravaginal ring uses a form of estrogen that, unlike ethinyl estradiol, is not associated with an increased risk of blood clots in the veins among women with a higher body mass index—who account for 15 percent of adult women. It is currently being evaluated for use in women with a higher body mass index in a Phase 2b study.  The second, the Nestorone®-only vaginal ring, has no estrogen, offering an alternative for those who have estrogen sensitivities, those who are at higher risk of blood clots, and postpartum breastfeeding mothers, who are often advised against using hormonal contraception that contains ethinyl estradiol due to its effect on milk production and composition. The ring will soon undergo a Phase 2 dose-finding study.On the nonhormonal front, Daré Bioscience is developing Ovaprene®, a monthly vaginal ring which uses a “semi-permeable polymer mesh barrier” to physically stop sperm from entering the cervical canal. Early clinical studies found that the ring is well-tolerated and acceptable to sexually active women and their partners. Additional clinical trial results announced in 2024 also demonstrated safety and efficacy, paving the way for a Phase 3 trial now underway.2. Biodegradable contraceptive implant  Today’s contraceptive implants are small, flexible rods inserted under the skin that continuously release hormones for pregnancy prevention. While they are safe and long-lasting, after three years, they must be removed by a medical provider. That can be an issue, particularly in low-resource settings worldwide where fewer trained health care workers, distance, and cost can serve as barriers to care. Biodegradable contraceptive implants, which dissolve into the body, offer promise as a more convenient option that could improve access by cutting out the need for a trip to a medical facility for device removal.FHI 360 and development partners pH Sciences and Gesea Biosciences, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, developed a biodegradable implant called Casea S, which can provide protection against unintended pregnancy for 18 to 24 months. The implant is now being tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial, the first trial for a biodegradable contraceptive implant in more than 20 years.3. Microneedle contraceptive patches   Many women choose to use injectable forms of contraception for long-acting protection, but, for others, the need for regular shots and visits to a health care provider can make this a less desirable choice. But imagine if these injections were pain-free and did not require leaving home. That is the promise of microneedle or microarray patches, which are small Band-Aid-like patches that contain hundreds of microneedles that slowly release drugs into the body when pressed against the skin. The new technology, which is also being developed to deliver vaccines and therapeutics, could offer a discrete, user-controlled, and less painful option that could either be self-administered or administered by a health care provider with minimal training.  With support from the US Agency for International Development through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PATH is developing an easy-to-use, discreet, and self-administered contraceptive patch that could provide protection against unintended pregnancy and HIV, which is currently in preclinical development.FHI 360, in partnership with Population Council and the Georgia Institute of Technology, is also developing a three- to six-month, biodegradable, and progestin-only patch currently in the preclinical phase, with support from the US Agency for International Development and the Gates Foundation.4. Longer-acting contraceptive injectablesThe most commonly used contraceptive injection, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), approved by FDA back in 1992, offers a longer-lasting option than the daily pill, with a three-month period between injections. However, DMPA requires users to return often to their health care providers, and it has the highest discontinuation rate among contraceptives in the United States due to unpleasant side effects like menstrual irregularities, weight gain, and bone density loss.FHI 360 is in the midst of a Phase 3 trial testing a six-month version of DMPA that is injected under the skin rather than into the muscle, which could offer a longer-lasting, lower-dose option that is more convenient and presents a lower risk of side effects for users. The product, which is the furthest-along six-month injectable in the pipeline, could be approved as early as 2025 or 2026 if trials prove successful.  FHI 360 is also developing a six-month self-injectable contraceptive that uses levonorgestrel rather than DMPA and is being advanced through Phase 1 clinical trials in collaboration with the Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, with funding from the Gates Foundation. This product could offer another longer-lasting option with potentially fewer side effects and the convenience of using it at home.  5. Male contraceptivesThe need for male contraceptive options beyond condoms and vasectomy to allow men to more equally share the responsibility of contraception has been widely and increasingly recognized. There are a number of technologies in development, including technologies that use hormones to disrupt the sperm creation process. Population Council has developed a novel, easy-to-use, and reversible gel hormonal contraceptive method that is applied daily to the shoulders and, if approved, would be the first-of-its-kind option for men. Early studies showed that it is well tolerated and causes no serious adverse events. A Phase 2b study yielded promising results, with a second part of the trial now underway. The gel, which could enter the final phase of testing in 2025 with the go-ahead from FDA, has made it excitingly far in a pipeline lacking in male contraceptive technologies beyond the preclinical stage.While hormonal strategies require a long time to start and stop working because of the considerable months-long sperm development process and could have side effects due to hormone disruption, there are also nonhormonal technologies in early-stage development. These nonhormonal strategies target specific processes later in sperm development and could start and stop working more quickly, perhaps even to the point of an on-demand product taken right before intercourse. One recent study in mice identified a new nonhormonal, reversible method that targets a protein complex important during sperm production, with the drug successfully stopping the process without producing side effects or causing irreversible effects. Another recent study in mice identified a different protein target necessary for fertility, finding similarly positive results.  Contraline and Next Life Sciences are also developing nonhormonal products that work by blocking the vas deferens, the tube in the male reproductive system that transports sperm, with an injectable gel. Contraline announced positive interim results from a first-in-human trial earlier this year. 6. Dual-use technologies for HIV, STI, and pregnancy preventionMultipurpose technologies that protect against unintended pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be a game-changer in opening up access to prevention tools, particularly in low-resource settings, by reducing the burden on users and the health care system.In addition to the aforementioned microneedle patch for HIV and unintended pregnancy prevention, Population Council is developing several dual-use products. The two products likely to reach market fastest are a dual-use pill, which reformulates already approved medicines for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and oral contraceptives into one tablet to be taken daily, and the dapivirine-levonorgestrel vaginal ring, which builds on the successful development of the one-month dapivirine ring for HIV prevention with a three-month ring that slowly releases the antiviral drug dapivirine and the contraceptive hormone levenorgestrel, drugs already approved in other forms. Other products in early development include a nonhormonal vaginal ring and a nonhormonal fast-dissolving vaginal insert, both designed to provide crosscutting protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs.Currently, contraceptive research and development is greatly underfunded, and there is an urgent need for new and improved products to better serve particular populations and those living in low-resource settings. The contraceptive technologies detailed above and others in the pipeline offer hope that we will in the future have a robust array of contraceptive options to ensure everyone globally who wants to use contraception has access to a product that works for them.  

Malaria is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Thanks to international efforts to develop and scale up prevention tools and treatments, significant gains have been made over the past few decades in fighting this dangerous disease. But challenges, such as growing drug and insecticide resistance, climate change, and disruptions from COVID-19, have hampered control efforts. While both malaria cases and deaths steadily declined from 2000 to 2019, since then, cases have been on the rise and reported deaths have not returned to pre-pandemic levels—indicating progress against the disease has stalled and underscoring the need for continued research and development of new tools.In recognition of World Malaria Day, test your knowledge of this deadly disease and the innovations being advanced to end malaria: