HPTN 049

Phase I Safety and Acceptability Study of the Vaginal Microbicide 6% Cellulose Sulfate Gel Among HIV-Infected Women

Study Summary

What was HPTN 049?

A Phase I, double blind, randomized, controlled, frequency escalation study with 14 days of product exposure and follow-up to assess the safety and acceptability of 6% cellulose sulfate (CS) gel for vaginal use versus a control gel among HIV-infected women and to assess the acceptability of CS gel among the HIV-infected male sexual partners of female participants.

Who participated in the study?

Sexually abstinent and sexually active HIV-infected women; HIV infected male partners of sexually active women (up to 80 women and up to 32 men).

What happened during the study?

Participants applied either 6% cellulose sulfate gel or a placebo gel intravaginally once or twice daily for 14 intramenstrual days (see protocol for regimen table).

Results

CS gel was safe with no reported severe or life-threatening adverse events (AE).

Why was this study important?

There was an urgent need to develop a safe and effective vaginal microbicide to prevent heterosexual transmission of HIV. Based on available pre-clinical and clinical data, CS gel was a promising candidate microbicide.

Study Documents

Study Details

Protocol Status: Concluded
Study Purpose:

To assess the safety and acceptability of 6% cellulose sulfate (CS) gel for vaginal use versus a control gel among HIV-infected women; to assess the acceptability of CS gel among the HIV-infected male sexual partners of female participants.

Study Design:

Multisite, Phase I, double blind, randomized, controlled, frequency escalation study with 14 days of product exposure and follow-up.

Study Population:

Sexually abstinent and sexually active HIV-infected women; HIV infected male partners of sexually active women.

Study Size:

Up to 80 women and up to 32 men.

Study Duration:

Accrual will require up to 18 months. Each female participant will be followed for 14 days. The entire study should be completed within 19 months.

Treatment Regimen:

Participants will apply either 6% cellulose sulfate gel or a placebo gel intravaginally once or twice daily for 14 intramenstrual days (see protocol for regimen table).

Primary Objectives:

To assess the local toxicity of once and twice daily intravaginal application of 6% CS gel on the vulvar and cervicovaginal mucosa of HIV-infected women versus a control gel.
To assess the systemic toxicity of once and twice daily intravaginal application of 6% CS gel among HIV-infected women.

Secondary Objectives:

To assess the acceptability of, and adherence to, a short-term regimen of 6% CS gel among HIV-infected women and their HIV-infected male sexual partners.

Key Study Personnel

Wafaa El-Sadr, Protocol Chair
Lisa Maslankowski, Protocol Co-Chair
Kenneth H. Mayer, Protocol Co-Chair
Karen Patterson, SDMC Protocol Specialist