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Achilles SL, Kelly CW, Hoesley CJ, Blithe DL, Brown J, Richardson BA, Devlin B, Hendrix CW, Poloyac SM, Marzinke MA, Gundacker H, Singh D, Piper JM, Johnson S, Steytler J, Chen BA. Phase 1 randomized trials to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and vaginal bleeding associated with use of extended duration dapivirine and levonorgestrel vaginal rings. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304552. [PMID: 38838028 PMCID: PMC11152307 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaginal rings formulated to deliver two drugs simultaneously have potential as user-controlled, long-acting methods for dual prevention of HIV and pregnancy. METHODS Two phase 1 randomized trials (MTN-030/IPM 041 and MTN-044/IPM 053/CCN019) respectively enrolled 24 and 25 healthy, HIV-negative participants to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, and vaginal bleeding associated with use of a vaginal ring containing 200mg dapivirine (DPV) and 320mg levonorgestrel (LNG) designed for 90-day use. MTN-030/IPM 041 compared the DPV/LNG ring to a DPV-only ring (200mg) over 14 days of use. MTN-044/IPM 053/CCN019 compared continuous or cyclic use of the DPV/LNG ring over 90 days of use. Safety was assessed by recording adverse events (AEs). DPV and LNG concentrations were quantified in plasma, cervicovaginal fluid, and cervical tissue. Vaginal bleeding was self-reported. RESULTS There were no differences in the proportion of participants with grade ≥2 genitourinary AEs or grade ≥3 AEs with DPV/LNG ring vs. DPV ring use (p = .22), or with DPV/LNG ring continuous vs. cyclic use (p = .67). Higher plasma DPV concentrations were observed in users of DPV/LNG compared to DPV-only rings (Cmax p = 0.049; AUC p = 0.091). Plasma DPV and LNG concentrations were comparable with continuous and cyclic use (Cmax p = 0.74; AUC p = 0.25). With cyclic use, median nadir plasma DPV concentration was approximately 300 pg/mL two days after removal and median t1/2 for cervicovaginal fluid DPV concentration was 5.76 hours (n = 3). Overall bleeding experiences did not differ between continuous and cyclic users (p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS The extended duration DPV/ LNG rings were well tolerated and the observed DPV concentrations in plasma and cervicovaginal fluid when used continuously exceeded concentrations observed in previous DPV ring efficacy studies. LNG concentrations in plasma were comparable with other efficacious LNG-based contraceptives. Genital DPV concentrations had a short half-life and were thus not well sustained following ring removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L. Achilles
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Clifton W. Kelly
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Craig J. Hoesley
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Diana L. Blithe
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contraceptive Development Program, DIPHR, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jill Brown
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contraceptive Development Program, DIPHR, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Barbra A. Richardson
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Brid Devlin
- International Partnership for Microbicides, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Craig W. Hendrix
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Samuel M. Poloyac
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Marzinke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Holly Gundacker
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Devika Singh
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jeanna M. Piper
- National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sherri Johnson
- FHI 360, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - John Steytler
- International Partnership for Microbicides, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Beatrice A. Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Kestelyn E, Van Nuil JI, Umulisa MM, Umutoni G, Uwingabire A, De Baetselier I, Uwineza M, Agaba S, Crucitti T, Delvaux T, van de Wijgert JHHM. High adherence to intermittent and continuous use of a contraceptive vaginal ring among women in a randomized controlled trial in Kigali, Rwanda. Front Glob Womens Health 2024; 5:1278981. [PMID: 38680542 PMCID: PMC11047128 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1278981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The introduction of female-initiated drug-delivery methods, including vaginal rings, have proven to be a promising avenue to address sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, which disproportionally affects women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Efficient uptake of existing and new technologies such as vaginal rings requires in depth understanding of product adherence. This remains a major challenge as data on adherence to vaginal rings from African countries is limited. In this study, we explored adherence of contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing®) use in Kigali, Rwanda using a mixed methods approach. Methods We collected quantitative and qualitative data at multiple time points from women participating in a clinical trial exploring the safety and acceptability of either intermittent or continuous use of the NuvaRing®. Various adherence categories were used including monthly and cumulative adherence measurement. The quantitative data were analysed using R and the qualitative data were analysed using a deductive, content-analytical approach based on categories related to the quantitative adherence measures. All data were compared and triangulated. Results Data from 120 enrolled participants showed that self-reported adherence was high at every study visit in both study groups. At first study visit 80% of the intermittent ring users and 79.7% of the continuous ring users reported perfect adherence (assessed as "the ring was never out"). Reporting of ring expulsions and removals were highest (28.3%) at the beginning of the trial. Self-reported perfect ring adherence increased during the study and reports of ring expulsions and removals declined as familiarity with this contraceptive method increased. The percentage of women with perfect cumulative adherence was non-significantly higher in the intermittent (61.7%) than in the continuous use group (54.3%). The low rate of discrepant adherence data after triangulation (6%) is in line with the perception of the participants as adherent throughout the study. Conclusions Self-reported adherence in both study groups was high with removals and expulsions being within the expected product range. Comprehensive adherence data triangulation allowed for a deeper understanding of context-driven behaviour that shaped adherence patterns and challenges. Our data categorisation and triangulation approach has shown potential for implementation in future vaginal ring studies aiming to better understand and measure adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Kestelyn
- Rinda Ubuzima, Kigali, Rwanda
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil
- Rinda Ubuzima, Kigali, Rwanda
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Irith De Baetselier
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Tania Crucitti
- Experimental Bacteriology Unit, Institut Pasteur Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Thérèse Delvaux
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Janneke H. H. M. van de Wijgert
- Rinda Ubuzima, Kigali, Rwanda
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Liu AY, Dominguez Islas C, Gundacker H, Neradilek B, Hoesley C, van der Straten A, Hendrix CW, Beamer M, Jacobson CE, McClure T, Harrell T, Bunge K, Devlin B, Nuttall J, Spence P, Steytler J, Piper JM, Marzinke MA. Phase 1 pharmacokinetics and safety study of extended duration dapivirine vaginal rings in the United States. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25747. [PMID: 34118115 PMCID: PMC8196716 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaginal rings are a promising approach to provide a woman-centred, long-acting HIV prevention strategy. Prior trials of a 25 mg dapivirine (DPV) ring have shown a favourable safety profile and approximately 30% risk reduction of HIV-1 infection. Extended duration rings replaced every three months may encourage user adherence, improve health service efficiency and reduce cost overall. We evaluated safety, pharmacokinetics, adherence and acceptability of two three-month rings with different DPV dosages, compared with the monthly DPV ring. METHODS From December 2017 to October 2018, MTN-036/IPM-047 enrolled 49 HIV-negative participant in Birmingham, Alabama and San Francisco, California into a phase 1, randomized trial comparing two extended duration (three-month) rings (100 or 200 mg DPV) to a monthly 25 mg DPV ring, each used over 13 weeks, with follow-up completed in January 2019. Safety was assessed by recording adverse events (AEs). DPV concentrations were quantified in plasma, cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) and cervical tissue, at nominal timepoints. Geometric mean ratios (GMRs) relative to the comparator ring were estimated from a regression model. RESULTS There were no differences in the proportion of participants with grade ≥2 genitourinary AEs or grade ≥3 AEs in the extended duration versus monthly ring arms (p = 1.0). Plasma and CVF DPV concentrations were higher in the extended duration rings compared to the monthly ring. Plasma GMRs were 1.31 to 1.85 and 1.41 to 1.86 and CVF GMRs were 1.45 to 2.87 and 1.74 to 2.60 for the 100 and 200 mg ring respectively. Cervical tissue concentrations were consistently higher in the 200 mg ring (GMRs 2.36 to 3.97). The majority of participants (82%) were fully adherent (ring inserted at all times, with no product discontinuations/outages) with no differences between the monthly versus three-month rings. Most participants found the ring acceptable (median = 8 on 10-point Likert scale), with a greater proportion of participants reporting high acceptability (9 or 10) in the 25 mg arm (73%) compared with the 100 mg (25%) and 200 mg (44%) arms (p = 0.01 and p = 0.15 respectively). CONCLUSIONS The extended duration DPV rings were well-tolerated and achieved higher DPV concentrations compared with the monthly DPV ring. These findings support further evaluation of three-month DPV rings for HIV prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Y Liu
- Bridge HIVSan Francisco Department of Public HealthSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Department of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Clara Dominguez Islas
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease DivisionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleWAUSA
| | - Holly Gundacker
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & PreventionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleWAUSA
| | - Blazej Neradilek
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & PreventionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleWAUSA
| | | | - Ariane van der Straten
- Department of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCAUSA
- Women’s Global Health Imperative (WGHI)RTI InternationalBerkeleyCAUSA
- ASTRA ConsultingKensingtonCAUSA
| | - Craig W Hendrix
- Division of Clinical PharmacologyDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - May Beamer
- Magee‐Womens Research InstitutePittsburghPAUSA
| | | | | | - Tanya Harrell
- Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & PreventionFred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleWAUSA
| | - Katherine Bunge
- Magee‐Womens Research InstitutePittsburghPAUSA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive SciencesUniversity of PittsburghPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Brid Devlin
- International Partnership for MicrobicidesSilver SpringMDUSA
| | - Jeremy Nuttall
- International Partnership for MicrobicidesSilver SpringMDUSA
| | - Patrick Spence
- International Partnership for MicrobicidesSilver SpringMDUSA
| | - John Steytler
- International Partnership for MicrobicidesSilver SpringMDUSA
| | - Jeanna M Piper
- Division of AIDSNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Mark A Marzinke
- Division of Clinical PharmacologyDepartment of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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Carson L, Merkatz R, Martinelli E, Boyd P, Variano B, Sallent T, Malcolm RK. The Vaginal Microbiota, Bacterial Biofilms and Polymeric Drug-Releasing Vaginal Rings. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13050751. [PMID: 34069590 PMCID: PMC8161251 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13050751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity and dynamics of the microbial species populating the human vagina are increasingly understood to play a pivotal role in vaginal health. However, our knowledge about the potential interactions between the vaginal microbiota and vaginally administered drug delivery systems is still rather limited. Several drug-releasing vaginal ring products are currently marketed for hormonal contraception and estrogen replacement therapy, and many others are in preclinical and clinical development for these and other clinical indications. As with all implantable polymeric devices, drug-releasing vaginal rings are subject to surface bacterial adherence and biofilm formation, mostly associated with endogenous microorganisms present in the vagina. Despite more than 50 years since the vaginal ring concept was first described, there has been only limited study and reporting around bacterial adherence and biofilm formation on rings. With increasing interest in the vaginal microbiome and vaginal ring technology, this timely review article provides an overview of: (i) the vaginal microbiota, (ii) biofilm formation in the human vagina and its potential role in vaginal dysbiosis, (iii) mechanistic aspects of biofilm formation on polymeric surfaces, (iv) polymeric materials used in the manufacture of vaginal rings, (v) surface morphology characteristics of rings, (vi) biomass accumulation and biofilm formation on vaginal rings, and (vii) regulatory considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Carson
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (L.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Ruth Merkatz
- Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; (R.M.); (E.M.); (B.V.); (T.S.)
| | - Elena Martinelli
- Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; (R.M.); (E.M.); (B.V.); (T.S.)
| | - Peter Boyd
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (L.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Bruce Variano
- Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; (R.M.); (E.M.); (B.V.); (T.S.)
| | - Teresa Sallent
- Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; (R.M.); (E.M.); (B.V.); (T.S.)
| | - Robert Karl Malcolm
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (L.C.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
While contraceptive drugs have enabled many people to decide when they want to have a baby, more than 100 million unintended pregnancies each year in the world may indicate the contraceptive requirement of many people has not been well addressed yet. The vagina is a well-established and practical route for the delivery of various pharmacological molecules, including contraceptives. This review aims to present an overview of different contraceptive methods focusing on the vaginal route of delivery for contraceptives, including current developments, discussing the potentials and limitations of the modern methods, designs, and how well each method performs for delivering the contraceptives and preventing pregnancy.
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