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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation<\/a> has pledged up to $140 million to help biotech firm Intarcia Therapeutics develop an HIV prevention<\/a> device.<\/span><\/p>\n The fund will help the Boston-based company to adapt its Medici implant technology program to deliver a steady stream of HIV medication to healthy patients over an extended period of time. The matchstick-sized device doses out medicine from a tiny pump embedded under the patient\u2019s skin.<\/span><\/p>\n Intarcia gets another $206M and announces a new disease target: HIV t.co\/B4IhxKQbMx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Boston Business (@BosBizJournal) January 10, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n GeekWire<\/b><\/a> reports:<\/span><\/p>\n The Gates Foundation contribution is divided into two parts. The Seattle non-profit behemoth is investing $50 million in Intarcia\u2019s latest Series EE round and committing up to $90 million in grants to be awarded as the startup crosses certain milestones.<\/span><\/p>\n The anti-HIV prophylactic therapy would be administered to patients once or twice-yearly. Intarcia is also developing a drug delivery system to treat type 2 diabetes, using the Medici technology. The startup plans to begin delivering the diabetes medication to patients next year but development of the anti-HIV prophylactic is expected to take longer.<\/span><\/p>\n Intarcia\u2019s pump will most likely begin rolling out in the U.S. and other wealthy countries, <\/span>according to the Wall Street Journal<\/b><\/a>. But the long-term goal is to bring the technology to parts of the developing world, like Sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV is endemic.<\/span><\/p>\n In a press release, Intarcia CEO Kurt Graves said the company \u201cis poised to open up a totally new category of important once- or twice-yearly treatment and prevention therapies for some of the world\u2019s most serious chronic diseases \u2212 including those that disproportionately affect people with some of the greatest unmet needs.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that Intarcia is \u201ctremendously excited and humbled to work with an incredible organization as smart, forward-looking and purpose-based as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Watch a Newsy report below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The post Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $140 Million to Develop PrEP Implant: VIDEO<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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