FEM-PrEP (Truvada®): Study to Assess the Role of Truvada® in Preventing HIV Acquisition in Women

Summary

This Phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled HIV-negative women from 4 sites in 3 countries (Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa). The study's purpose was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a once-daily Truvada® pill (compared with placebo) in preventing HIV among HIV-uninfected women at risk of becoming infected through sexual intercourse. The study population included HIV-antibody-negative women between the ages of 18-35 who were at risk of HIV acquisition through sexual intercourse. Each participant was randomized to take either a daily single oral tablet of Truvada®, which is a fixed-dose combination of emtricitabine (FTC; 200 mg) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF; 300 mg), or an identical placebo. After enrollment, each participant was followed every four weeks. All participants were followed for an additional eight weeks after study drug was stopped. Incidence rates of HIV infection were compared between the two groups (active drug and placebo) using the intent-to-treat principle.

Timeline

Start

2009-05

Primary completion

2012-08

Completion

2013-01

Publications

• Results Lut Van Damme, M.D., Amy Corneli, Ph.D. and Douglas Taylor, Ph.D. New England Journal of Medicine 367: 411-422, 2012
• Mandala J, Nanda K, Wang M, De Baetselier I, Deese J, Lombaard J, Owino F, Malahleha M, Manongi R, Taylor D, Van Damme L. Liver and renal safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in combination with emtricitabine among African women in a pre-exposure prophylaxis trial. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2014 Dec 24;15:77. doi: 10.1186/2050-6511-15-77.
• Grant RM, Liegler T, Defechereux P, Kashuba AD, Taylor D, Abdel-Mohsen M, Deese J, Fransen K, De Baetselier I, Crucitti T, Bentley G, Agingu W, Ahmed K, Damme LV. Drug resistance and plasma viral RNA level after ineffective use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis in women. AIDS. 2015 Jan 28;29(3):331-7. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000556.
• Todd CS, Deese J, Wang M, Hubacher D, Steiner MJ, Otunga S, Van Damme L; FEM-PrEP Study Group. Sino-implant (II)(R) continuation and effect of concomitant tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine use on plasma levonorgestrel concentrations among women in Bondo, Kenya. Contraception. 2015 Mar;91(3):248-52. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2014.10.008. Epub 2014 Oct 22.
• Van Damme L, Corneli A, Ahmed K, Agot K, Lombaard J, Kapiga S, Malahleha M, Owino F, Manongi R, Onyango J, Temu L, Monedi MC, Mak'Oketch P, Makanda M, Reblin I, Makatu SE, Saylor L, Kiernan H, Kirkendale S, Wong C, Grant R, Kashuba A, Nanda K, Mandala J, Fransen K, Deese J, Crucitti T, Mastro TD, Taylor D; FEM-PrEP Study Group. Preexposure prophylaxis for HIV infection among African women. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 2;367(5):411-22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1202614. Epub 2012 Jul 11.

Drugs

Indications