Abstract

Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and local tolerance of a topical 2% (w/w) cidofovir gel, applied directly to the cervices of women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+). The secondary objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cidofovir during the treatment. Materials and methods: Nine women with CIN 2+, were treated with a course of 3 g of cidofovir gel, applied locally once per week for 3 weeks in total (9 g). The treatment was administered in a cervical cap, applied to the cervix for 5 or 10 hours (n = 6 and 3 patients, respectively). Follow-up included a structured questionnaire, a gynecological examination, blood analysis for hematology, C-reactive protein (CRP), and renal function assessment plus pharmacokinetic analyses of cidofovir after each treatment and at the end of the full course. Results: No clinically significant hematological/biochemical abnormalities or serious adverse events (SAE) were reported, although 6 mild to moderate adverse events (AE) occurred in relation to the study drug: 1 flu-like syndrome and 5 local AEs. Plasma concentrations of cidofovir were very low (mean C_max of 103.0 and 99.2 ng/mL after 5 and 10 hours of exposure, respectively). Conclusion: Cidofovir, directly applied on CIN 2+, is reasonably well tolerated and the systemic exposure following topical application is much lower than that seen with intravenous administration, at the approved dose.


Author Details

Authors

• Michel Bossens¹
• Maud Jost²
• Catherine Van Pachterbeke¹
• Viviane De Maertelaer¹
• Philippe Simon¹
• Francis Frankenne²
• Philippe Hubert³
• Brigitte Evrard³
• Robert Snoeck⁴

Departments

• ¹ Université Libre de Bruxelles, ULB, Brussels,
• ² Mithra Pharmaceutical,
• ³ Université ULG, CIRM, and
• ⁴ Rega Instituut, Leuven, Belgium

Address

Catherine 
Van Pachterbeke, PhD

CHU Brugmann
Place Arthur Van Gehuchten, 4
1020 Bruxelles, Belgium
Email: 
[email protected]

Citation