Cervical cancer remains a significant global health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to prevention and treatment is limited, and women are at a higher risk of cervical cancer. Artesunate, a widely available drug used to treat malaria, has shown promise in treating human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anogenital lesions, including high-grade cervical precancer, in a recent Phase I study in the United States.
In Kenya, Chemtai Mungo, MD, MPH, FACOG, is conducting a single-arm, phase I trial with a sample size of 12 female volunteers. Participants will self-administer artesunate vaginal pessaries in the study clinic daily for 5 consecutive days. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the pharmacokinetics of Artesunate (AS) and its active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), following intravaginal use at the dosing and frequency intended for cervical precancer treatment.