Objective: To evaluate the short-term safety, tolerability, and systemic exposure of a vaginal microbicide gel containing the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor TMC120.
Design: Randomized, controlled, double-blind, phase 1 trial of a gel containing 3 different concentrations of TMC120 versus placebo.
Methods: Of the 48 HIV-negative and 16 HIV-positive women enrolled, 52 women received active product. Participants applied the gel twice daily for 7 days and were assessed on 6 occasions. Colposcopic evaluation was performed before and after first gel application and on day 8. Laboratory safety assessments were carried out on all visits except day 7. Plasma levels of TMC120 were measured on days 1 and 7.
Results: All TMC120 concentrations were well tolerated, and there were no apparent differences in safety parameters. Four women (6%) had treatment-emergent mild cervical findings (petechiae in 3 women and erythema in 1 woman) of <5 mm. Plasma levels of TMC120 were quantifiable on day 1 in 7 (13%) participants and on day 7 in 39 (75%) participants using TMC120 gel.
Conclusions: The TMC120 vaginal gel was well-tolerated in this short study by HIV-negative and HIV-positive women. The implications of the absorption of TMC120 should be studied further in expanded safety and effectiveness trials.