CAPRISA 004

CAPRISA 004 is the name of a clinical trial conducted by CAPRISA. This particular study was the first to show that a topical gel could reduce a person's risk of contracting HIV. The gel used in the study contained a microbicide.

Background

A previous study had measured the safety and tolerability of tenofovir in both sexually active and abstinent women. This study gave support to the idea that tenofovir was a drug which was worth examining as an HIV preventative.[1]

Study design

CAPRISA 004 was a phase IIb, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study comparing 1% tenofovir gel with a placebo gel. 900 young women who were judged to be at risk of contracting HIV infection volunteered to use a study gel in their vaginas, with half of those receiving the microbicide gel and the other half getting placebo according to the result of their randomization. The study asked participants to a first dose of the assigned study gel within 12 hours prior to having sex and to apply another dose within 12 hours after sex. All study volunteers participated in HIV risk reduction counseling and received condoms.The study also assisted in arranging treatment for any sexually transmitted infections which study participants contracted.[2]

The study began in May 2007, was completed in December 2009, and the data collected from the study was published in March 2010. The study design had expected the study to last for 30 months, with about 14 months being used to recruit study volunteers then with follow-up until 92 participants were observed to have become infected with HIV. The entrance criteria for study was such that based on the risk factors in the participants' lifestyle, the study expected 92 infections to occur approximately 16 months after the study recruited the final volunteer.[2]

Results

Researchers led by Quarraisha Karim found that a microbicide containing 1% tenofovir was, for women participating in the trial, 39% effective in reducing risk of contracting HIV during sex and 51% effective in preventing genital herpes infections.[3][4]

Responses

The results of CAPRISA 004 were formally released at the 18th International AIDS Conference.[5]

Michel Sidibé of UNAIDS described the results of the study as being very encouraging because the treatment "can be controlled by women, and put in 12 hours earlier, and that is empowering. They do not have to ask the man for permission to use it. And the cost of the gel is not high."[6]

Anthony Fauci of NIAID stated that "This is the first study that has shown a clear-cut positive effect of a microbicide on blocking acquisition of HIV infection."[7]

Mitchell Warren, head of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, remarked that "This is a really historic day for HIV prevention research. For the first time, though the CAPRISA 004 trial, we have seen evidence in a human clinical trial that a microbicide can help to prevent sexual transmission."[5]

A Phase III study named "FACTS 001", a larger study involving 2,200 women in Africa which is expected to start around the end of July 2011 and last 24 months.[8]

Research partnerships

CAPRISA conducted CAPRISA 004 with the following assistance:

The principal investigators for the study were Salim S Abdool Karim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim, both of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The study was conducted at the eThekwini Clinical Research Site in Durban, South Africa and the Vulindlela Clinical Research Site in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Mayer, Kenneth Ha; Maslankowski, Lisa Ab; Gai, Fangc; El-Sadr, Wafaa Md; Justman, Jessicae; Kwiecien, Antoniaf; Mâsse, Benoîtc; Eshleman, Susan Hg; Hendrix, Craigg; Morrow, Kathleena; Rooney, James Fh; Soto-Torres, Lydiai; the HPTN 050 Protocol Team (2006). "Safety and tolerability of tenofovir vaginal gel in abstinent and sexually active HIV-infected and uninfected women". AIDS (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 20 (4): 543–551. doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000210608.70762.c3. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Safety and Effectiveness Study of a Candidate Vaginal Microbicide for Prevention of HIV". ClinicalTrials.gov. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Nomonde Mbadi (20 July 2010). "STUDY OF MICROBICIDE GEL SHOWS REDUCED RISK OF HIV & HERPES INFECTIONS IN WOMEN". CAPRISA. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  4. ↑ Maggie Fox (19 July 2010). "AIDS gel with Gilead drug protects women in study". Reuters. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 >Joe DeCapua (20 July 2010). "CAPRISA 004 Discovery Marks Historic Day in HIV Prevention Research". http://www.voanews.com/english/''. Voice of America. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Celia W. Dugger (19 July 2010). "African Studies Give Women Hope in H.I.V. Fight". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  7. ↑ Saundra Young (20 July 2010). "Gel cuts HIV transmission rate in study". CNN. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  8. ↑ Mapping Pathways (15 June 2011). "FACTS 001 trial announced in Africa". Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "CAPRISA 004 Tenofovir Gel Trial". Family Health International. Retrieved 28 March 2011.

External links