Carrageenan

STD Research

"Researchers identified a class of compounds called sulfated polysaccharides, and particularly Carrageenan, as one of the most promising candidate microbicide"

See New Research by the National Cancer Institute

NEW 26th Annual International Papillomavirus Conference

Carraguard, a vaginal microbicide, protects women against HPV infection

NCI Study

The laboratory of Cellular Oncology at the National Cancer Institute reported that a comparison of a variety of compounds revealed that carrageenan, a type of sulfated polysaccharide extracted from red algae, is an extremely potent infection inhibitor for a broad range of sexually transmitted HPVs.” (See the research - slides 50, 51.)

Microbides

• The Carraguard study is one of the furthest along in implementation. Carraguard contains a seaweed extract that acts as an HIV fusion or entry inhibitor. Formulated as a gel, the microbicide is being compared to placebo in a randomized controlled trial by the Population Council at three sites in South Africa (Cape Town, Durban and Limpopo). The study will be unblinded for final efficacy analysis in the second quarter of 2007.



• Cellulose Sulfate (CS) is another entry inhibitor formulated as a gel that is being compared to HEC gel (a non-active gel placebo) in two randomized controlled trials. Trial #1 is in Uganda, South Africa, India, Benin and Burkina Faso. The last follow-up in this study is expected be in July 2008, data analysis should occur in December 2008, with results in March 2009.Trial # 2 is in Lagos, and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The last follow-up in this study is expected to be in January 2008, with results due sometime later that year.



• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) study 035 is comparison of 0.5% PRO 2000 (another gel entry inhibitor) and BufferGel (an acidic buffering gel) versus two controls -- a placebo gel and open label no gel arm. The trial is looking at safety and efficacy against HIV and also bacterial vaginosis, a number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy at six sites in Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and one site in the United States. The trial is currently in still in a safety analysis phase, but will roll over uninterrupted into the efficacy phase in October this year, with primary effectiveness results expected by early 2009.



• Microbicides Development Programme (MDP) 301, is a study funded by United Kingdom's medical research council and DFID looking at two strengths of PRO 2000 (0.5%, and 2.0%) versus placebo at six sites in South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania. The trial is expected to continue until March 2009 with results due later than year.



• Methods for Reproductive Health in Africa (MIRA) is conducting a study of the Ortho All-Flex diaphragm containing Replens gel (an acidifying buffer) in Harare, Zimbabwe, and in Soweto and Durban, South Africa. The study is fully enrolled, and final results are projected for the fall of 2007.



• Two trials of Savvy, a surface active agent formulated as a gel that provides a protective coating within the vagina, have begun: Savvy Nigeria, conducted in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria, began in October 2004 and is expected to continue until May 2007. Savvy Ghana was discontinued when it was discovered that the HIV incidence among trial participants (in both placebo and microbicide arm) would be too low to reach any clear conclusion about the effectiveness (or lack of effect) of Savvy.