Microbicide Trials Network

What Microbicide Trials Network does

Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is an NIH-funded clinical trials network established in 2006 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its mission is the development and rigorous clinical evaluation of microbicides — topically or locally delivered products designed to prevent HIV infection — with particular emphasis on products intended for use by women in high-incidence settings. MTN designs, conducts, and analyzes Phase I–III clinical studies of candidate products such as vaginal rings (e.g., dapivirine, DapiRing), vaginal inserts (TAF/EVG), and other delivery modalities, enrolling participants across a network of more than 25 clinical research sites in the United States and Africa. The organization has executed 53 protocols, enrolled over 12,000 participants, and maintains a repository of more than 1 million biological samples.

MTN's core "product" is its clinical trial execution platform: protocol design, site activation, participant recruitment, laboratory coordination, and regulatory-grade data generation. Its technology stack is centered on Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-compliant trial operations, validated laboratory assays, and integration with NIH clinical research infrastructure rather than commercial software products. Active programs include the DELIVER and B-PROTECTED studies of the dapivirine ring in pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the MATRIX project advancing a TAF/EVG vaginal insert through early-phase evaluation. The network collaborates closely with product-development partners Population Council and CONRAD for product manufacturing, formulation, and regulatory strategy.

MTN does not generate commercial revenue. Its business model is grant-funded research: it operates on cooperative agreements and contracts from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIAID, NICHD, NIMH) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Since December 2021, MTN has operated as a subgrant under the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), consolidating its funding pathway within the broader NIH HIV-prevention research portfolio. The network has 1–10 direct employees but mobilizes a much larger affiliated workforce across its clinical sites and partner institutions. Leadership is anchored by principal investigator Sharon L. Hillier, Ph.D., of the Magee-Womens Research Institute.

Name

Microbicide Trials Network

Legal name

Microbicide Trials Network

Website

https://mtnstopshiv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Microbicide Trials Network is an NIH-funded clinical trials consortium headquartered in Pittsburgh that designs and conducts Phase I–III studies of HIV-prevention microbicides, including vaginal rings and inserts, across a network of 25+ U.S. and African research sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

HIV/AIDS Medicine (HLAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Clinical trials network
• HIV prevention research
• Microbicide development
• Vaginal ring studies
• Antiretroviral formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. NIH Grant Funding: The MTN received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with co-funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Effective December 1, 2021, the MTN operates under a DAIDS Cooperative Agreement with the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) funded by a direct HPTN subgrant agreement to Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) through FHI 360.
2. NIH Study Support Grants: Specific studies received support through NIH grants UM1AI068633, UM1AI068615 and UM1AI106707 for studies like DELIVER and B-PROTECTED.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is an NIH-funded HIV/AIDS clinical trials network that conducts rigorous clinical trials to evaluate promising microbicides — products applied inside the vagina or rectum to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. Its portfolio spans vaginal formulations (monthly and 90-day dapivirine rings, dual-purpose rings, fast-dissolving inserts, gels) and rectal formulations (gels, douches, suppository-like inserts) designed for user-controlled HIV prevention.

Product overview

The Microbicide Trials Network is a clinical research organization that evaluates promising microbicides - products applied inside the vagina or rectum to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. The network's core offerings include the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring (approved in multiple African countries), extended-duration 90-day rings, dual-purpose rings combining HIV prevention with contraception, topical gel formulations (vaginal and rectal), and fast-dissolving inserts. These products are designed for user-controlled HIV prevention, offering alternatives to condoms and daily oral PrEP. The network conducts rigorous clinical trials to support regulatory approval of these products for vulnerable populations including adolescent girls, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and key affected communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DELIVER (MTN-042) Clinical Study

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributed to WHO recommendation of dapivirine ring as additional HIV prevention option for women
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Population CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022The Population Council acquired IPM's dapivirine ring portfolio in mid-2022, including the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring that was developed by the non-profit International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM). The ring has been approved in several African countries and recommended by WHO.
• CONRADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Developing the TAF/EVG fast-dissolving insert as a dual-compartment vaginal and rectal microbicide. MTN conducted MTN-039 Phase I study evaluating the insert rectally. Part of USAID-funded MATRIX project for continued development.
• International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Non-profit organization that developed the dapivirine vaginal ring. MTN contributed to IPM's dapivirine ring program, which resulted in WHO's recommendation of the ring as an additional HIV prevention option for women with plans for introduction in several African countries.
• Gilead SciencesminorOthersProvided Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) as study product for DELIVER and B-PROTECTED studies. Gilead also provided oral emtricitabine/tenofovir for some MTN studies.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationPharmacology Core laboratory location for the MTN Laboratory Center, led by Craig Hendrix, MD. Also involved in clinical research sites (MU-JHU Research Collaboration in Kampala, Uganda; College of Medicine-Johns Hopkins University Research Project in Blantyre, Malawi).
• Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional host for the MTN based at Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh. Since December 2021, the MTN operates under a subgrant agreement to MWRI through FHI 360 under the HPTN cooperative agreement.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (SCHARP)coreTechnology or IntegrationHome to the Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC) for MTN studies. The SDMC, under the direction of Elizabeth Brown, ScD, manages MTN study databases and guides Protocol Teams on statistical components.
• FHI 360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey operational partner in the Leadership and Operations Center. Since December 2021, the MTN operates under a subgrant agreement to MWRI through FHI 360. FHI 360 staff including Kristine Torjesen, MD lead key components of LOC.
• JhpiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lisa Noguchi, Director for Maternal and Newborn Health at Jhpiego and research associate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, served as B-PROTECTED protocol co-chair and led the MTN-029/IPM 039 study.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• FHI 360: Core operational partner through MTN's Leadership and Operations Center; HPTN subgrant flows through FHI 360 to MWRI. While broader than MTN, FHI 360's global health research and programs division is functionally a key operational backbone for HIV prevention trials.
• Gilead Sciences: Provided Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and oral emtricitabine/tenofovir as study products for MTN's DELIVER and B-PROTECTED studies. Major commercial player in HIV therapeutics whose products are comparators and reference agents in MTN trials.
• Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI): Primary institutional host for MTN and the subgrant recipient since the December 2021 HPTN transition. Closely aligned women's health research institute whose Laboratory Center operations (formulation testing, mucosal immunology, microbiology) are essentially MTN's laboratory core.
• WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs: MTN research directly contributed to WHO's recommendation of the dapivirine vaginal ring as an additional HIV prevention option for women. WHO serves as the central normative body whose guidelines determine which MTN-studied products get adopted at scale.

Emerging players

• AVAC: Global non-profit advocacy organization focused on HIV prevention research and rollout, including microbicides, PrEP, vaccines, and long-acting injectables. MTN explicitly follows UNAIDS/AVAC Good Participatory Practices; AVAC is a key partner in advocacy and introduction of MTN-studied products like the dapivirine ring.

Direct peers

• AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG): Largest NIH-funded HIV clinical trials network, focused primarily on HIV therapeutics and cure research. Sister NIH-funded network with comparable multi-site structure, data management operations, and DAIDS funding pathway.
• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN): NIH-funded HIV prevention clinical trials network that now serves as MTN's parent cooperative agreement holder. Operates a parallel portfolio of HIV prevention trials (including vaccines, PrEP, and treatment-as-prevention) with similar multi-site, multi-continent infrastructure and the same NIH/DAIDS funding model.
• CONRAD: Non-profit product development organization developing the TAF/EVG fast-dissolving insert in collaboration with MTN (MTN-039 study). Operates in the same microbicide development space with USAID funding and shared HIV prevention mission.
• IMPAACT Network: NIH-funded clinical trials network focused on HIV and related infections in infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant/postpartum women. Comparable federally-funded, multi-site HIV trials infrastructure with overlapping populations of pregnant/breastfeeding women (e.g., B-PROTECTED) studied by MTN.
• International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) / Population Council: Original product developer of the dapivirine vaginal ring; IPM's portfolio was acquired by the Population Council in 2022. Direct strategic partner of MTN on dapivirine ring development, sharing the same microbicide/HIV prevention mission and regulatory pathway.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hivmtn
• Facebookfacebook.com/224012110949101

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Microbicide Trials Network