Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT04841629 |
| Other study ID # |
R41CA254543 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Completed |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
February 24, 2022 |
| Est. completion date |
November 28, 2022 |
Study information
| Verified date |
December 2022 |
| Source |
Glyciome, LLC |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
PreBioGyn will be compared to market leading vaginal pH buffering gels using established
forearm test methods associated with vaginal lubricity sensation in 42 women. Women will also
rate each gel for smell and appearance using established methods. The PreBioGyn gel enclosure
and intravaginal applicator design will be evaluated for: look and feel, ability to prepare
for dosing, ability to expulse dose, and likelihood of future use by subjects. Open-ended
feedback on the gel and applicator will occur to gather contributions for each product.
Description:
This study is being conducted as a component of a NIH/NCI sponsored Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) project entitled "Cervical Cancer Prevention Prebiotic Device."
The prebiotic vaginal gel, PreBioGyn, has been developed to optimize vaginal health and
reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women. Use of the gel targets a combination of
biological risk factors for cervical cancer including restoring and maintaining healthy
vaginal microbiota, pH, and mucosal function, thereby preventing disturbed immunity and
inflammation caused by dysbiosis and mucosal microtrauma. The purpose of this study is to
provide a quantitative perception evaluation of the acceptability of PreBioGyn and its
applicator system.
The objectives of this study are to:
1. Perform a quantitative sensory evaluation to determine the topical acceptability of
PreBioGyn, as well as receive qualitative feedback on the gel, as compared to
competitive products.
2. Obtain quantitative and qualitative feedback regarding acceptability of the PreBioGyn
applicator compared to those for existing competitive products.
These Study Objectives do not involve actual intravaginal use of the product. Rather, this
activity will involve presentation of the products in a forearm and finger-touch sensory
evaluation, and the answering of questions related to this perceptual evaluation.
Study Design:
This is a randomized, single-blind, cross-over study that will include 42 women.
Study Procedures and Methods:
Quantitative sensory evaluation and qualitative feedback to determine the acceptability of
the prebiotic vaginal gel (PreBioGyn) as compared to competitive products
Summary:
Quantitative evaluation of PreBioGyn and two competitive vaginal pH buffer-gels will be
performed. The four key qualitative parameters to be evaluated are slipperiness, tackiness,
appearance, and smell. These parameters are key functional outcomes for the final PreBioGyn
formula. Qualitative feedback and likelihood of use for each gel will also be collected and
scored.
1. Quantitative Assessment of Slipperiness and Tackiness ("lubricity").
Quantitative perceptual lubricity (slipperiness and tackiness) will be determined using
a standardized methodology wherein participants discriminate differences between the
PreBioGyn and two competitive products, versus positive and negative anchor products.
Products are evaluated on the skin (forearm area) ex vivo.
Participants will each receive the positive and negative anchors, then the three gel
products, on three different 4-cm circular forearm sites. The order of the gels, and the
circle to which it was applied, will be determined randomly based on a
computer-generated randomization table. Each treatment is replicated twice. Participants
will be blinded to the specific products used.
Fingers and circles will be wiped with a low-residue baby-wipe and paper towel. The
investigator dispenses 0.2 ml of the sample into the center of the circle previously
drawn on the forearm. The sample is rubbed in a circle using the index finger at a rate
of 2 revolutions per second for 15 seconds and followed with another 45 seconds (60
second time point). A metronome is set at 120 bpm and played to standardize the
manipulation rate.
At time points 15 and 60 seconds, slipperiness is evaluated using a visual analog scale
(VAS). The two ends of the visual analog scale are anchored by the phrases "not
slippery" and "very slippery." The participant is asked to make a mark on the VAS at the
point of their slipperiness assessment between the two anchors. Prior to study gel
measurements, participants will perform evaluations on two products representing the
negative anchor "not slippery" (lanolin) and positive anchor "very slippery" (Gun Oil™
lubricant).
At the 60-second time point, and after the slipperiness score is recorded, subjects will
assess tackiness by tapping their finger up and down for 5 seconds on the skin in the
circle just used to assess slipperiness.
Tackiness is evaluated using the visual analog scale. The two ends of the visual analog
scale are anchored by the phrases "Not tacky or sticky" and "very tacky or sticky." The
focus group participant is asked to make a mark on the VAS at the point of their
tackiness assessment between the two anchors. Prior to study gel measurements,
participants will perform evaluations on two products representing the anchors of "very
tacky" (lanolin) and "not tacky" (Gun Oil® lubricant). The degree of slipperiness and
tackiness is determined by measuring the distance of the participants mark on the visual
analog scale from the left baseline.
2. Qualitative Assessment of Appearance and Smell and Overall Perception.
Study participants will be asked to rate the appearance and smell of the PreBioGyn and
competitive products following the end of the quantitative assessment period. The
traditional nine-point hedonic scale will be used to assess the degree of liking or
disliking of each gel's smell and appearance. The reliability, validity and
discriminative ability of the scale has been proven in food, cosmetic, and personal care
product acceptance tests.
Two milliliters (2 ml) of each lubricant will be dispensed from a prefilled syringe onto
a small clear plastic petri dish. The order of the gel will be determined randomly based
on a computer-generated randomization table. Each treatment is replicated twice.
Participants will be blinded to the product identity. Subjects will be asked to observe
the gels under good lighting, smell the gels from a distance of approximately 2-5 cm
from the end of their nose, and then rate each gel on the Hedonic scale. Finally,
open-ended feedback on the gels, including likelihood of use as a proposed product to
decrease cervical cancer risk, will occur using the "I Like, I Wish, What If" method to
gather participant contributions.
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Feedback Regarding Acceptability of the PreBioGyn
Applicator Compared to Competitive Products.
Women will rank the PreBioGyn applicator versus that of competitive products in a 9-point
Hedonic scale for acceptability of the applicator look and feel; the usability for preparing
the applicator for dosing, and the usability to expel the gel (table-top). Finally, the
overall reaction to the concept of inserting each applicator vaginally will be rated, as well
as a 5-point Likert-scale rating of likelihood of future use of each product to reduce
cervical cancer risk. Finally, open-ended feedback on the applicators will occur using the "I
Like, I Wish, What If" method to gather participant contributions.
