Clinical trial NCT00308711
Conditions: Cervical Ripening Labor, Induced
Keywords: Cervical ripening Induction of labor Dinoprostone vaginal insert Cervidil Misoprostol vaginal insert Modified Bishop's Score PGE2 PGE1 Uterine Hyperstimulation Cesarean section
Sponsor: Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Start date: 2006-04-01; Completion date: 2007-08-01
Enrollment: 1308 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the misoprostol vaginal insert (50 mcg and 100 mcg) can safely and effectively speed time to vaginal delivery compared to Cervidil (R) in women who need to have cervical ripneing and induction of labor.

Detailed description:
Induction of labor is required in approximately 20% of pregnant women. Although contractions can be brought on by oxytocin ("pitocin"), some women need help in softening the cervix, or mouth of the womb (uterus), before oxytocin can be started. Prostaglandins have been shown to ripen, or soften, the cervix; at present, the only prostaglandin approved for marketing by FDA for this purpose is dinoprostone. Dinoprostone can be delivered in several ways; one method is to use a polymer vaginal insert that slowly releases the dinoprostone directly to the cervical tissues. This product is called Cervidil (R) and has been marketed for more than 10 years in the United States. Misoprostol is another form of prostaglandin that is approved for protecting the stomach and intestinal lining for patients taking NSAIDs. Misoprostol has also been used by many obstetricians for cervical ripening and inducing contractions, but, it is not approved by FDA for this purpose.

The same company that makes the Cervidil polymer insert has made an insert that will slowly release misoprostol. This study will determine whether this investigational insert containing misoprostol will decrease time to vaginal delivery compared to Cervidil. Two different doses of misoprostol will be tested (50 micrograms and 100 micrograms); each vaginal insert will gradually release a small, controlled amount of misoprostol over up to 24 hours.

Comparator: The Cervidil (R) vaginal insert containing dinoprostone will be the comparator in this study.

Arms: arm 1: Misoprostol vaginal insert 100 mcg over 24h arm 2: Misoprostol vaginal insert 50 mcg over 24h arm 3: Cervidil 10 mg over 24h
Interventions: intervention 1: Misoprostol vaginal insert 100 mcg intervention 2: Misoprostol vaginal insert 50 mcg intervention 3: Dinoprostone vaginal insert (Cervidil)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Hydrogel polymer intravaginal insert with retrieval system. One insert is to remain in the posterior fornix of the vagina until removed for one of the following conditions: onset of active labor; maternal/fetal complication, e.g. non-reassuring fetal heart rate. Record if the insert falls out prior to meeting one of the first two criteria. In no case is the insert to remain in place longer than 24h. intervention 2: Hydrogel polymer intravaginal insert with retrieval system. One insert is to remain in the posterior fornix of the vagina until removed for one of the following conditions: onset of active labor; maternal/fetal complication, e.g. non-reassuring fetal heart rate. Record if the insert falls out prior to meeting one of the first two criteria. In no case is the insert to remain in place longer than 24h. intervention 3: Hydrogel polymer intravaginal insert with retrieval system. One insert is to remain in the posterior fornix of the vagina until removed for one of the following conditions: onset of active labor; maternal/fetal complication, e.g. non-reassuring fetal heart rate. Record if the insert falls out prior to meeting one of the first two criteria. In no case is the insert to remain in place longer than 24h.

Protocol documents: