Oral Levonorgestrel Plus Meloxicam, IG-002 Delays Ovulation in Normal Menstruating Women by Seven Days

This clinical trial determines if an oral medication taken within 2 days of anticipated ovulation will delay ovulation by 7 days. The study compares oral placebo tablets (control) to oral levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone, and meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (treatment) in 21 healthy women between the ages of 18 to 40. The control or treatment are taken 48 hours apart in the first and second menstrual cycle, respectively. The first dose is taken when the ovarian follicle has a diameter of 17 mm measured by transvaginal ultrasound. This follicle diameter is found 2 ± 1.0 days before ovulation. Ovulation is determined by a change in urinary hormone levels analyzed in first morning daily urine. The Investigators anticipate that the control cycle will have an interval to ovulation of ≤ 3 days from first placebo to ovulation while a delay of ≥7 days is found between first treatment to ovulation. A second question is to determine the side effects between control versus treatment based on symptoms such as nausea or abdominal cramping, change in blood pressure or pulse rate and the interval in menstrual bleeding.

Each study participant has approximately 9 visits during each of two menstrual cycles. The visits between menstrual day 9 (first visit) to largest follicle are 3 to 6 depending upon follicle growth. A blood sample with a transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian follicle diameter is obtained at each visit. The appropriate medication is taken when the ovarian follicle largest diameter is 17 mm. The second dose is taken 2 days later with interim and final visits at 5 and 10 days following first dose. Each participant collects first morning urine from menstrual day 9 to 23. A teaspoonful of morning urine is placed in a storage tube and kept in a refrigerator freezer section until returned at a scheduled visit. All urine samples are kept frozen until analyzed for the metabolites of estrogen and progesterone by a central research laboratory. A change in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone metabolites is indicative of ovulation because more progesterone is secreted after ovulation from the ovary.

The primary research outcome compares the interval in days from first dose of medication to ovulation between control and treatment. Secondary outcomes are menstrual cramps, vaginal bleeding, nausea, and headache, and changes in blood pressure, pulse, and interval between menstrual periods in control compared to treatment cycles.

The investigators will perform a single site single blind clinical trial to determine the delay in ovulation following administration of placebo or levonorgestrel plus meloxicam in normal menstruating women aged 18 to 40. The Hypothesis is: There will be a delay of \>7 days between the first dose of combination drug and the occurrence of ovulation compared to \<3 days following placebo.

The investigators will screen 26 potential participants to enroll and complete 21. Each participant after signing an Informed Consent and meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled on menstrual day 9 of the subsequent menstrual cycle following a negative urine pregnancy test. Each participant will be asked to collect a first morning voided urine sample beginning on menstrual day 9 for 13 days completing on menstrual day 22. The participant will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound on menstrual days 9, 12, 13 and possibly day 14 to determine ovarian follicle diameters in two planes frontal and sagittal using transvaginal ultrasound. When the largest follicle diameter is 17±1.0 mm the participant will be given the assigned intervention. Placebo tablets will be given in two doses 48 hours apart in the 1st control cycle and levonorgestrel 1.5 mg plus meloxicam 15 mg two doses 48 hours apart in the 2nd treatment cycle. The ovarian follicle diameter occurs approximately in the middle of the woman's window of fertility which is the four days preceding the day of ovulation. We anticipate that ovulation will take place within 72 hours after the first placebo dose in \>90% of the participants and will be delayed ≥7 days following the first dose of levonorgestrel 1.5 mg and meloxicam 15 mg orally in ≥85% of the participants.

The primary outcome is the delay in days from the first dose of medication to evidence of ovulation the formation of a corpus luteum. The daily urine samples will be assayed for luteinizing hormone, estrone-3-glucuronide, and pregnadiol-3-glucuronide by our central laboratory. Changes in the urinary metabolites of estrone and progesterone are used to identify the day of the luteal-follicular transition (DALT) indicating ovulation. Urine luteinizing hormone will be analyzed on a subset of the daily urine samples to confirm a LH increase in the placebo cycle (Days 12 to 17) and the delay in the LH increase in the levonorgestrel plus meloxicam cycle (Days 12 to 19).

Secondary outcomes are: a) the comparison of the symptoms and menstrual interval between treatments, b) safety parameters consisting of blood pressure and pulse obtained at each visit and the incidence of treatment emergent adverse events captured by the participant using a daily diary card. The participant will be instructed to write down any symptoms or problem along with medications taken including study drug and other medications. The occurrence, percentage and relationship of minor and moderate adverse events will be noted and categorized using Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedRA) adverse event classification for ach intervention placebo and medication and listed in all reports and publications. Each participant will be involved for a study period of approximately 3.0 months or 90 days. Each participant will undergo a complete history and physical evaluation at entry and a brief interim history, vital signs and physical evaluation at exit with height and weight at entry. Mean and standard deviation of all vital signs results and the incidence of adverse events before and after treatment will be compiled and listed in all reports and publications.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 1. Female in good general health with no chronic medical conditions that result in periodic exacerbations that require significant medical care.

  2. Age between 18 to 40 years inclusive at time of enrollment. 3. BMI ≤30 kg/m² and no recent rapid weight loss or gain. 4. Intact uterus with both ovaries intact. 5. PAP test within ASCCP or ACOG guidelines such that additional testing or evaluation will not be required during the study period. If there is no copy of a recent PAP test and the subject is 21 years or older a Pap test should be done during the screening visit.

  6. Regular menstrual cycles with an interval of 24 to 32 days:
  1. If postpartum of post-second trimester abortion, she must have 5 menses prior to enrollment.
  2. If the subject has had a first trimester pregnancy loss or abortion, she must have one spontaneous menses prior to enrollment.

     7. Have a negative urine pregnancy test on menstrual cycle day 9 pre-treatment visit.

     8. Not at risk of pregnancy for the duration of the study defined as heterosexually abstinent, prior female or male permanent contraception, non-hormonal intrauterine device or willing to use a non-hormonal barrier contraceptive method with each act of intercourse until study exit.

     9. Subject is willing and able in the Investigators opinion of complying with protocol requirement's 10. Subject is willing to collect daily urine first morning urine and store them until collected.

     11. Lives within the study catchment area or a reasonable distance from the study site.

     12. Understands and signs the IRB approved informed consents prior to undergoing any screening assessment.

     13. Agrees not to participate in any other clinical trials during the course of this study.

     14. Screening serum progesterone level greater than 3 ng/ml.

     Exclusion Criteria:
     1. Known hypersensitivity or contraindications to progestins.
     2. Abnormal transvaginal ultrasound or safety laboratory results evaluated during the screening period recognized as clinically significant aby the investigator or medically qualified designee.
     3. Known or suspected alcohol or marijuana abuse.
     4. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding.
     5. Undiagnosed vaginal discharge, lesions or abnormalities. Women with a history of genital herpes can be included if the outbreaks are infrequent. Antiviral prophylaxis is allowed.
     6. Uncontrolled Thyroid disorder.
     7. Current use of hormonal contraception or a levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine device.
     8. Use of a long-acting injectable hormonal contraceptive within the past 6 months unless has had at least one spontaneous menstrual cycle (two menstrual bleeding episodes) since the last injection.
     9. Breastfeeding women or those who have not had a spontaneous menstrual bleed since discontinuing breastfeeding.
     10. Women who plan a major surgical procedure during the study.
     11. Women who plan to become pregnant during their participation in the study.
     12. Women who smoke \>15 cigarettes per day or who use \>1 mL/day of nicotine-containing liquid for electronic cigarettes.
     13. Current or history of ischemic heart disease or stroke while pregnant or during use of hormonal contraception.
     14. Current or past deep vein thrombosis or thromboembolic disorder.
     15. Personal or family history of thrombophilia
     16. History of retinal vascular lesions or partial or complete loss of vision.
     17. Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast, endometrium, or other suspected progestin sensitive neoplasia.
     18. History of other carcinomas excluding basal cell cancers unless in remission for \> 5 years.
     19. Current or past medically diagnosed severe depression unless the potential participant is on stable medication or in the opinion of the Principal Investigator could be exacerbated by the use of a hormonal contraceptive.
     20. History of headaches with focal neurologic symptoms.
     21. Have a current need for exogenous hormones or therapeutic anticoagulants .
     22. History of cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior steroid hormone use.
     23. Other benign or malignant liver tumors or active liver disease.
     24. Systolic BP ≥145 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥96 mm Hg after 5 -10 minutes of rest in a sitting position. If the initial BP values are above these cut-offs, a total of 3 measurements may be taken and the results averaged. If the averaged BP is below the cut-off levels, the participant may be allowed into the study. Hypertension that is treated and controlled may be allowed based on Investigator's discretion.
     25. Clinically significant abnormal serum chemistry value based on the Investigator's judgement.
     26. Participation in another clinical trial involving an investigational drug or device within the past two months before anticipated enrollment or is planning to participate in another clinical study during this study.
     27. Use of any liver enzyme inducers or plans to use such medication during the study.
     28. Known HIV infection.
     29. History of gastrointestinal ulcers or bleeding.
     30. Women who are using medication on the Exclusionary medication list (See Appendix).
     31. Have issues or concerns in the opinion of the Investigator that may compromise the sturdy or confound the reliability of compliance and information that is required in this study.
     32. Have a known hypersensitivity to either levonorgestrel or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
     33. Use of any medication that could interfere with the metabolism of a hormonal contraceptive or the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or any drug that falls in FDA Pregnancy and Lactation narrative subsections (Formerly Category D or X medications).
     34. Be a site member with delegated study responsibilities or a family member of, or have a close relationship with, a site staff member who will be delegated study responsibilities.