Safety Study of MucoCept-CVN

Recruiting now · Phase 1 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: HIV -1 Infection

In brief

MucoCept-CVN uses a Lactobacillus strain native to the human vagina that is modified into a live biotherapeutic product (LBP) that continuously expresses a potent anti-HIV drug. If research shows that MucoCept-CVN is safe and effective, it could become a self-renewing, female-initiated prevention product for women that promotes vaginal health and provides protection from HIV. The goal of this first-in-human Phase 1 dose-ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled study of MucoCept-CVN is to collect data on safety, colonization, changes to the vaginal microbiota and clearance of the strain with antibiotics. Twelve healthy women will be enrolled and take either one or three doses of MucoCept-CVN or placebo, and a week later will receive antibiotics to clear the Lactobacillus strain. If research shows that MucoCept-CVN is safe and effective, it could become a self-renewing, long-acting, female-initiated prevention product for women that promotes vaginal health and provides protection from HIV.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07181486

Run by

Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

People needed

12

Starts

2025-10-06

Expected to finish

2027-10-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Healthy pre-menopausal women 18-45 years of age, inclusive, with regular predictable menstrual cycles
• Ability to read and consent in English
• Previous experience of gynecological examinations
• Consent to participate and adhere to all procedures, including frequent visits at the UCSF Clinical Research Center (CRC) facility for at least 53 days
• Agree to get tested for STIs and a Pap Smear
• Agree not to use any other vaginal product during the course of the study, including spermicides
• Agree to sexual abstinence (no vaginal, anal, and receptive oral intercourse) until the elimination of L. jensenii 1153-1666 is confirmed and for 12 hours prior to the final study visit after clearance is confirmed
• For participants with male sexual partners: Agree to use two forms of contraception, condoms plus hormonal or permanent method (intrauterine device [IUD] or tubal ligation) during vaginal intercourse from the time clearance is established to the Final Visit 30 days after clearance. Use of spermicides is not permitted.
• For participants with female sexual partners: Agree to use female condoms during intercourse from the time clearance is established to the Final Visit 30 days after clearance. Use of hormonal or permanent method of contraception (IUD or tubal ligation) is not required.
• Agree to inform their sexual partner about the goals of the study and importance of sexual abstinence (no vaginal, anal, and receptive oral intercourse) and present with their partner at enrollment visit for separate consent procedure for partners
• Current sexual partners of participants must meet all the following criteria to be enrolled:
• Ability to read and consent in English
• Consent to participate and adhere to all procedures for sexual partners should exposure to L. jensenii 1153-1666 be suspected, including multiple visits at the UCSF Clinical Research Center (CRC)
• Agree to sexual abstinence (no vaginal, anal, and receptive oral intercourse) until the elimination of L. jensenii 1153-1666 is confirmed, and for 12 hours prior to the final study visit after clearance is confirmed

You may not qualify if…

• Urogenital infection, including UTI, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, HIV-1/2, BV, or vulvovaginal candidiasis
• Abnormal Pap smear result
• Pregnancy or within two months of last pregnancy or lactation
• Antibiotic or antifungal therapy (vaginal or systemic) within 30 days of enrollment
• Investigational or immune-suppressive drug use within 30 days of enrollment visit or 10 half-lives, or planned during the study
• Intrauterine device insertion or removal, pelvic surgery, cervical cryotherapy, cervical laser or loop electrosurgical procedure, abortion, labioplasty within three months prior to enrollment
• Findings during the pelvic exam at the enrollment visit involving significant deep disruption of the epithelium (e.g., Herpes genitalis lesions)
• Known allergy to any component used in MucoCept-CVN or clindamycin and azithromycin in participant or sexual partner(s), including azithromycin-associated cholestatic jaundice.
• History of transplant surgery, cancer, HIV, diabetes or condition that could facilitate the growth of microorganisms
• Recent history of drug or alcohol abuse
• Unwillingness to abstain from sexual activity during study by participant or sexual partner(s)
• If in a sexual relationship, inability to present with their sexual partner before enrollment
• If in a sexual relationship, having multiple concurrent partners or anonymous partners.
• Any other condition which the study clinician feels would limit the participant's ability to be an appropriate study subject
• History of regional enteritis (Crohn's disease), ulcerative colitis, or "antibiotic-associated" colitis
• For sexual partners of study participants, the following exclusion criteria apply:
• Known allergy to any component used in MucoCept-CVN or clindamycin and azithromycin, including azithromycin-associated cholestatic jaundice.
• Having multiple concurrent sex partners or anonymous sex partners.
• HIV-1/2 infection
• Any other condition which the study clinician feels would limit the ability of sexual partner(s) to complete the study
• Co-enrollment in clinical trials testing study drugs

Where it is running

• UCSF Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital — San Francisco, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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