Safety Study of MucoCept-CVN

NCT ID: NCT07181486

Last Updated: 2025-09-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

12 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-22

Study Completion Date

2027-10-31

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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The goal of this first-in-human Phase 1 dose-ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled study is to collect critical data needed to advance the clinical development of MucoCept-CVN, specifically (1) understanding factors that influence vaginal colonization by L. jensenii 1153-1666, including dose and endogenous vaginal microbiota; and (2) pharmacokinetic, tissue and systemic effects of L. jensenii 1153-1666, such as adverse events (AE) and findings in colposcopy and vaginal biopsy, and (3) changes to the vaginal microbiota. We also need to show that (4) L. jensenii 1153-1666 can be sufficiently cleared with antibiotics should the need arise for rescue therapy.

Twelve healthy women will be enrolled. Two women in Cohort 1 will receive one dose of active investigational product. Four women in Cohort 2 will be randomized 1:1 to either receive one dose of active investigational product or placebo. Two women in Cohort 3 will receive three doses of active investigational product. Four women in Cohort 4 will be randomized 1:1 to either receive three doses of active investigational product or placebo. Participants will be closely followed over the course of 23-37 days until antibiotic clearance of L. jensenii 1153-1666 is achieved, with a final follow-up visit occurring 30 days after clearance (Day 53-67).

Any sexual partners of study participants will be informed and consented before enrollment of study participants, and need to agree to sexual abstinence during the study. Should exposure to L. jensenii 1153-1666 occur in sexual partners, they will receive testing for L. jensenii 1153-1666 and antibiotic clearance as safety management.

Conditions

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HIV -1 Infection

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
For this first-in-human study, the first two participants for single dose (Cohort 1) and triple dose (Cohort 3) are unblinded and will receive the investigational product MucoCept-CVN.

Cohort 2 (single dose randomized) and Cohort 4 (triple dose randomized) are double-blinded.

Study Groups

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Single Dose MucoCept-CVN

Two women in Cohort 1 will receive a single dose of active investigational product. Two of four women in Cohort 2 (1:1 randomization) will receive a single doses of active investigational product.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Live Biotherapeutic Product L. jensenii 1153-1666

Intervention Type DRUG

The vaginally administered MucoCept-CVN contains Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a natural component of the human vaginal microbiota that has been modified to continuously express the potent HIV entry inhibitor modified-cyanovirin-N (mCV-N) right at the site of infection.

MucoCept-CVN is supplied as a prefilled vaginal applicator containing Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a modified strain of L. jensenii 1153 by integrating a modified cyanovirin-N gene into its chromosome to enhance the strain's ability to inhibit HIV. Each applicator contains 200 mg of MucoCept-CVN powder (1 x 109 CFU), and an inactive preservation matrix.

Triple Dose MucoCept-CVN

Two women in Cohort 3 will receive three doses of active investigational product. Two of four women in Cohort 4 (1:1 randomization) will receive three doses of active investigational product.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Live Biotherapeutic Product L. jensenii 1153-1666

Intervention Type DRUG

The vaginally administered MucoCept-CVN contains Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a natural component of the human vaginal microbiota that has been modified to continuously express the potent HIV entry inhibitor modified-cyanovirin-N (mCV-N) right at the site of infection.

MucoCept-CVN is supplied as a prefilled vaginal applicator containing Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a modified strain of L. jensenii 1153 by integrating a modified cyanovirin-N gene into its chromosome to enhance the strain's ability to inhibit HIV. Each applicator contains 200 mg of MucoCept-CVN powder (1 x 109 CFU), and an inactive preservation matrix.

Placebo (Single Dose and Triple Dose)

Two of four women in Cohort 2 (1:1 randomization) will receive one dose of placebo.

Two of four women in Cohort 4 (1:1 randomization) will receive three dose of placebo.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Each placebo applicator contains 200 mg of placebo powder comprising the same inactive ingredients of the preservation matrix as the study product.

Interventions

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Live Biotherapeutic Product L. jensenii 1153-1666

The vaginally administered MucoCept-CVN contains Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a natural component of the human vaginal microbiota that has been modified to continuously express the potent HIV entry inhibitor modified-cyanovirin-N (mCV-N) right at the site of infection.

MucoCept-CVN is supplied as a prefilled vaginal applicator containing Lactobacillus jensenii 1153-1666, a modified strain of L. jensenii 1153 by integrating a modified cyanovirin-N gene into its chromosome to enhance the strain's ability to inhibit HIV. Each applicator contains 200 mg of MucoCept-CVN powder (1 x 109 CFU), and an inactive preservation matrix.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Each placebo applicator contains 200 mg of placebo powder comprising the same inactive ingredients of the preservation matrix as the study product.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Healthy pre-menopausal women 18-45 years of age, inclusive, with regular predictable menstrual cycles
2. Ability to read and consent in English
3. Previous experience of gynecological examinations
4. Consent to participate and adhere to all procedures, including frequent visits at the UCSF Clinical Research Center (CRC) facility for at least 53 days
5. Agree to get tested for STIs and a Pap Smear
6. Agree not to use any other vaginal product during the course of the study, including spermicides
7. 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
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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:

1. Ability to read and consent in English
2. 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)
3. 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

Exclusion Criteria

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


1. Known allergy to any component used in MucoCept-CVN or clindamycin and azithromycin, including azithromycin-associated cholestatic jaundice.
2. Having multiple concurrent sex partners or anonymous sex partners.
3. HIV-1/2 infection
4. Any other condition which the study clinician feels would limit the ability of sexual partner(s) to complete the study
5. Co-enrollment in clinical trials testing study drugs
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Osel, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Duke University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

DFNet Research Inc.

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Locations

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UCSF Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital

San Francisco, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Craig R Cohen, MD, MPH

Role: CONTACT

Anke Hemmerling, MD, PhD, MPH

Role: CONTACT

415-322-0533

Facility Contacts

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Sara Newmann, MD MPH

Role: primary

628-206-4220

Emelly Argueta, BA

Role: backup

Related Links

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https://www.mucocept.com/

study recruitment website

Other Identifiers

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U01AI186333

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

U01AI186333

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

View Link

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