Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Dapivirine Vaginal Ring in Post-menopausal Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will evaluate the safety of the dapivirine vaginal ring when inserts once every 4 weeks in postmenopausal women over 12 weeks of product use.

Detailed Description
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Dapivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), is a substituted diamino- pyrimidine (DAPY) derivative with potent antiviral activity against HIV-1. Dapivirine is chemically described as 4-[[4-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amino]-2- pyrimidinyl]amino]benzonitrile.6 The dapivirine matrix VR is a flexible ring containing 25 mg of drug substance dispersed in a platinum-catalyzed-cured silicone matrix. Dapivirine is known to be well-suited for delivery via VR, as evidenced by favorable safety and pharmacokinetic data to date described below.

Official Title
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Phase 2a Safety Study of a Vaginal Matrix Ring Containing Dapivirine in a Postmenopausal Female Population

Conditions
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Dapivirine Vaginal Ring
* Drug: Placebo Vaginal Ring


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 45 through 65 years (inclusive) at Screening, verified per site SOPs Per participant report, postmenopausal at Screening, defined as amenorrhoeic for the past 12 months (minimum) or at least 6 months status post-bilateral oophorectomy Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level at 40 mIU/ml or higher at Screening Able and willing to provide written informed consent to be screened for and enrolled in MTN-024/IPM 031 Able to communicate in spoken and written English Able and willing to comply with all study procedural requirements Willing to only use study provided and/or approved vaginal products throughout the duration of study participation. Willing to abstain from inserting study approved lubricant into the vagina for 72 hours prior to each visit Willing to abstain from vaginal intercourse for 72 hours prior to each visit In general good health as determined by the Investigator of Record (IoR)/designee at Screening and Enrollment Able and willing to provide adequate locator information, as defined in site SOPs HIV-uninfected based on testing performed at Screening (per protocol algorithm in Appendix II) Per participant report at Screening and Enrollment, agrees to use male latex condoms for sexual intercourse Per participant report at Screening and Enrollment, states a willingness to refrain from inserting any non-study vaginal products or objects into the vagina including, but not limited to spermicides, female condoms, diaphragms, topical or systemic hormone replacement therapy, including vaginal estrogens, and/or hormonal contraceptives, vaginal medications, menstrual cups, cervical caps (or any other vaginal barrier method), vaginal douches, lubricants and moisturizers, sex toys (vibrators, dildos, etc.), for the duration of the study participation. Note: Use of study approved lubricant is permitted. At Screening and Enrollment, agrees not to participate in other research studies involving drugs, medical devices, vaginal products, or vaccines for the duration of study participation Participants in the biopsy subset must also meet the following criteria at Screening to be eligible for inclusion: Willing to abstain from inserting anything into the vagina for 72 hours following the collection of biopsies, including abstaining from vaginal intercourse Anatomy sufficient for the collection of cervical biopsies Exclusion Criteria: Per participant report at screening: Plans to relocate away from the study site during study participation Plans to travel away from the study site for more than 4 consecutive weeks during study participation Pregnant at screening Note: A documented negative pregnancy test performed by study staff is required for inclusion; however a self-reported pregnancy is adequate for exclusion from the study. Diagnosed with urinary tract infection (UTI) at Screening or Enrollment Note: Otherwise eligible participants diagnosed with UTI during screening are offered treatment and may be enrolled after completing treatment and all symptoms have resolved. If treatment is completed and symptoms have resolved within 45 days of obtaining informed consent for screening, the participant may be enrolled. Diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease, an STI or reproductive tract infection (RTI) requiring treatment per current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines at Screening or Enrollment Note: Otherwise eligible participants diagnosed during screening with pelvic inflammatory disease or STI/RTI requiring treatment per CDC guidelines - other than asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV) and asymptomatic candidiasis - are offered treatment and may be enrolled after completing treatment and all symptoms have resolved. If treatment is completed and symptoms have resolved within 45 days of obtaining informed consent for screening, the participant may be enrolled. Genital warts requiring treatment also must be treated prior to Enrollment. Genital warts requiring therapy are defined as those that cause undue burden or discomfort to the participant, including bulky size, unacceptable appearance, or physical discomfort. Has a clinically apparent Grade 2 or higher pelvic exam finding (observed by study staff) at Screening or Enrollment, as per the Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events Version 1.0, December, 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009), Addendum 1-Female Genital Grading Table for Use in Microbicide Studies Note: Cervical bleeding associated with speculum insertion and/or specimen collection judged to be within the range of normal according to the clinical judgment of the Investigator of Record (IoR)/designee is considered expected non-menstrual bleeding and is not exclusionary. Note: Otherwise eligible participants with exclusionary pelvic exam findings may be enrolled/randomized after the findings have improved to a non-exclusionary severity grading or resolved. If improvement to a non-exclusionary grade or resolution is documented within 45 days of providing informed consent for screening, the participant may be enrolled. Participant report and/or clinical evidence of any of the following: Known adverse reaction to any of the study products (ever) Known adverse reaction to latex (ever) Chronic and/or recurrent vaginal candidiasis Topical or systemic hormone replacement therapy and/or hormonal contraception within the 6 months prior to Enrollment Non-therapeutic injection drug use in the 12 months prior to Enrollment Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV exposure within the 6 months prior to Enrollment Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention within the 6 months prior to Enrollment Last pregnancy outcome 6 months or less prior to Enrollment Gynecologic or genital procedure (e.g., tubal ligation, dilation and curettage, piercing) 90 days or less prior to Enrollment Currently breastfeeding At Screening, severe pelvic relaxation such that either the vaginal walls or the uterine cervix descend beyond the vaginal introitus with Valsalva maneuver Participation in any other research study involving drugs, medical devices, vaginal products, or vaccines, in the 45 days prior to Enrollment As determined by the IoR/designee, any significant uncontrolled active or chronic cardiovascular, renal, liver, hematologic, neurologic, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic disorder or infectious disease Has any of the following laboratory abnormalities at Screening Visit: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) Grade 1 or higher* Creatinine Grade 2 or higher* Hemoglobin Grade 2 or higher* Platelet count Grade 1 or higher* Pap result Grade 2 or higher** Note: Otherwise eligible participants with an exclusionary test may be re-tested during the screening process. Note: Women with a documented normal result within the 12 months prior to Enrollment need not have a Pap smear during the screening period. Women with a Grade 1 abnormal Pap smear can be enrolled upon completion of the initial phase of evaluation if no current treatment is indicated (based on local standard of care for management of abnormal cervical cytology). Need for a repeat Pap within 6 months does not preclude Enrollment prior to that result becoming available. If the participant has had a hysterectomy for reasons not related to cervical dysplasia, a Pap smear need not be performed. Has any other condition that, in the opinion of the IoR/designee, would preclude informed consent, make study participation unsafe, complicate the interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives *Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events Version 1.0, December, 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009) **Female Genital Grading Table for Use in Microbicide Studies Addendum 1 to the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Table for Grading Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Version 1.0, December 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 45 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Dapivirine Vaginal Ring<br>Safety study of a vaginal ring containing Dapivirine in a postmenopausal female population | Drug: Dapivirine Vaginal Ring<br>* Dapivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), is a substituted amino- pyrimidine (DAPY) derivative with potent antiviral activity against HIV-1. Dapivirine is chemically described as 4-[[4-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amino]-2- pyrimidinyl]amino]benzonitrile.6 The dapivirine matrix VR is a flexible ring containing 25 mg of drug substance dispersed in a platinum-catalyzed-cured silicone matrix. Dapivirine is known to be well-suited for delivery via VR<br>* Other names: TMC-120;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>The placebo VR is a flexible, platinum-catalyzed-cured matrix ring, identical to Dapivirine Ring-004, containing no active-drug | Drug: Placebo Vaginal Ring<br>* The placebo VR is a flexible, platinum-catalyzed-cured silicone matrix ring, identical to dapivirine Ring-004, containing no active drug.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Safety of Dapivirine (25 mg) Administered in a Silicone Elastomer Vaginal Matrix Ring in HIV-uninfected Postmenopausal Women, When Inserted Once Every 4 Weeks During 12 Weeks of Study Product Use | Evidence of Grade 2 or higher genital, genitourinary and reproductive system AEs as defined by the Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Version 1.0, Dec 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009), Addendum 1, (Female Genital Grading Table for Use in Microbicide Studies) judged to be related to study product. Evidence of Grade 3 or higher AEs as defined by the Division of AIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adult and Pediatric Adverse Events, Version 1.0, Dec 2004 (Clarification dated August 2009). DAIDS severity grades are defined as follows: Grade 1 = mild Grade 2 = moderate Grade 3 = severe Grade 4 = potentially life-threatening Grade 5 = death | over 12-week period of use | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Percentage of Participants Who Find the Study Vaginal Ring to be as Acceptable | To evaluate the acceptability, the percentage of participants who at their 12-Week Final Clinic Visit report via acceptability questionnaire that they prefer the ring at least as much as other HIV prevention methods. | at 12-week visit | 
| Percentage of Women Who Were Adherent to Daily Study Product Use Based on Self-report Over the 12-week Study Product Use Period | Adherence will be measured by the percentage of women who keep the VR inserted at all times in the vagina over the course of 12 weeks. A participant was considered adherent in one month (4 weeks) by self-reported data, only if the ring was never out during that month and the participant was not on product hold and did not terminate the clinical trial within that month. | 12-week period of use | 
| Pharmacokinetics - The Intent is to Determine if the Plasma Dapivirine Concentrations Are Different in Postmenopausal Women Than in Pre-menopausal Adult Women After Placement of Dapivirine Vaginal Rings. | The PK endpoint is a description of the end of period (28 day post ring insertion) plasma dapivirine concentrations at week 4, 8, and 12 which will be compared to the same results in a recently studied population of premenopausal adult women (MTN-013). | a 12 week product use period | 
| Pharmacokinetics - The Intent is to Determine if the Vaginal Fluid Dapivirine Concentrations Are Different in Postmenopausal Women Than in Pre-menopausal Adult Women After Placement of Dapivirine Vaginal Rings. | The PK endpoint is a description of the end of period (28 day post ring insertion) vaginal fluid dapivirine concentrations at week 4, 8, and 12 which will be compared to the same results in a recently studied population of premenopausal adult women (MTN-013). | a 12 week product use period |