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Artesunate Ointment for the Treatment of Anal HSIL in HIV-negative Participants

A Phase II Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Trial of Artesunate Ointment for the Treatment of HIV-negative Patients With Anal High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (Anal HSIL)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06206564
Acronym
ART-AIN IIB-2
Enrollment
48
Registered
2024-01-16
Start date
2024-01-12
Completion date
2026-12-31
Last updated
2025-05-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anal High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, Anal HSIL, Anal HPV Infection, AIN

Keywords

intra-anal, topical, non-surgical

Brief summary

This is a phase II double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of artesunate ointment for the treatment of HIV-negative men and women who have anal high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (anal HSIL)

Detailed description

Eligible participants in this study are randomized 2:1 to receive either artesunate or placebo ointment for the treatment of anal HSIL. Both groups receive four 5-day cycles of ointment, at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6. Participants are followed closely with anoscopy or high resolution anoscopy (HRA) at weeks 8, 18, 30, and 42. After the week 18 HRA visit, participants who have at least partial response will be followed with HRA at week 30. Participants who are found to be non-responders at week 18 will undergo standard of care ablation. Participants who are found to have anal HSIL at weeks 30 or 42 will be followed according to standard of care procedures. Primary Objective: To evaluate the complete and partial histopathologic response to four 5-day cycles of artesunate ointment in adult patients with biopsy-proven HPV-associated intra-anal HSIL (18 weeks). Secondary Objectives: Efficacy: To evaluate the viral clearance after four 5-day cycles of artesunate ointment To evaluate complete and partial intra-anal response To evaluate complete and partial peri-anal response To evaluate persistence of response throughout the study window Safety: To evaluate the safety of artesunate ointment for the treatment of intra-anal HSIL.

Interventions

Four 5-day cycles of artesunate ointment given at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6

DRUGPlacebo

Four 5-day cycles of placebo ointment given at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6

Sponsors

Laser Surgery Care, LLC
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Anal Dysplasia Clinic MidWest
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Frantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Masking description

Double-blind, placebo-controlled

Intervention model description

Double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adult men and women age ≥ 18 years * Capable of informed consent * Biopsy-confirmed intra-anal high-grade dysplasia (AIN 2, AIN 3, anal HSIL) by HRA. * Positive anal human papillomavirus (HPV) test. * Women of childbearing potential agree to use birth control for the duration of the study. * Laboratory values at Screening of: 1. Serum alanine transaminase (SGPT/ALT) \< 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) 2. Serum aspartate transaminase (SGOT/AST) \< 5 x ULN 3. Serum Bilirubin (total) \< 2.5 x ULN 4. Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN * Electrocardiogram (ECG) with no clinically significant findings as assessed by the Investigator. * Weight ≥ 50kg

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant and nursing women * Diagnosis of low-grade anal dysplasia (AIN 1, LSIL), without the concomitant diagnosis of anal HSIL, by HRA * Concurrent anal, vulvar, cervical, or penile cancer * HIV-seropositivity * Currently receiving systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for another cancer. * Patients who are on medical treatment with systemic immunosuppressants or steroids (e.g., active autoimmune disease). Participants using nasal steroid treatments for allergic conditions may participate in the study. * Concomitant use of strong UGT (Uridine-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase) inhibitors * Concomitant use of imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the duration of the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complete and partial response by week 1818 weeksNumber of participants with complete and partial response after four 5-day cycles of artesunate ointment

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
HPV clearance42 weeksNumber of participants who do not have detectable HPV infection
Complete and partial response after week 1830 weeksNumber of participants with complete and partial response after week 18
Complete and partial peri-anal response after intra-anal ointment application42 weeksNumber of participants who have complete and partial peri-anal response after 4 5-day cycles of intra-anal ointment
Persistence of response42 weeksNumber of participants who have complete response and do not have recurrence of anal HSIL

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Safety of intra-anal artesunate ointment42 weeksNumber of participants who do not have any drug-related serious adverse events

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactMihaela Plesa
fvtinfo@frantzgroup.com440-255-1155
Backup ContactAhmad Bayat, MD
ahmadb@amarexcro.com301-956-2523

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026