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RecruitingNCT06206564ART-AIN IIB-2Updated May 18, 2025

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

A Phase 2 interventional study of Artesunate ointment and Placebo in Anal High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, Anal HSIL and Anal HPV Infection, sponsored by Frantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC. Recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-18.

Sponsored by Frantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
48
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study 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)

Read the 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.

02

Conditions studied

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

Keywords

  • intra-anal
  • topical
  • non-surgical
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts 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

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
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
48 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Artesunate

    Drug: Artesunate ointment

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo ointment

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugArtesunate ointment

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

    Also known as: Artesunic acid, Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), Artemisinin

  • DrugPlacebo

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

    Also known as: placebo ointment

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Complete and partial response by week 18

    Number of participants with complete and partial response after four 5-day cycles of artesunate ointment

    Time frame: 18 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. HPV clearance

    Number of participants who do not have detectable HPV infection

    Time frame: 42 weeks

  2. Complete and partial response after week 18

    Number of participants with complete and partial response after week 18

    Time frame: 30 weeks

  3. Complete and partial peri-anal response after intra-anal ointment application

    Number of participants who have complete and partial peri-anal response after 4 5-day cycles of intra-anal ointment

    Time frame: 42 weeks

  4. Persistence of response

    Number of participants who have complete response and do not have recurrence of anal HSIL

    Time frame: 42 weeks

Other outcomes

  1. Safety of intra-anal artesunate ointment

    Number of participants who do not have any drug-related serious adverse events

    Time frame: 42 weeks

06

Study locations

2 of 2 sites recruiting
  • Anal Dysplasia Clinic MidWest
    Chicago, Illinois 60614, United States
    • Gary Bucher, MD · Contact · garybuchermd@adcmidwest.com · 312-623-2625
    • Emily Miller · Contact · 3126232625
    • Gary Bucher, MD · Principal investigator
    • Emily Miller, APN · Sub investigator
    Recruiting
  • Laser Surgery Care
    New York, New York 10011, United States
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — No protected health information (PHI) will be shared with other researchers.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06206564
Lead sponsor
Frantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC
Collaborators
Laser Surgery Care, LLC, Anal Dysplasia Clinic MidWest
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 16, 2024
Start date
Jan 12, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
May 18, 2025

Study contacts

Mihaela Plesa
Contact
fvtinfo@frantzgroup.com
440-255-1155
Ahmad Bayat, MD
Contact
ahmadb@amarexcro.com
301-956-2523

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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