Cefixime vs Penicillin G for Early Syphilis in HIV and non-HIV patients
Official title: Clinical Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Cefixime Versus Penicillin G for Treatment of Early Syphilis
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11401409 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares a cefixime-based treatment to standard penicillin for early syphilis in people with and without HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 13, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $636,954 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI155217-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401409 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early syphilis, including those living with HIV, who can participate across nine U.S. clinical sites.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have early syphilis or who cannot tolerate cefixime may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have early syphilis, this study tests whether taking cefixime twice daily for 10 days works as well as the standard penicillin shot. The trial is conducted at multiple U.S. sites and follows patients for 9 months to see how their symptoms and blood tests respond. Researchers will track safety, treatment effectiveness, and changes in syphilis antibody levels over time. Results could expand options for people who cannot receive penicillin or prefer an oral regimen.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, cefixime could offer a safe and effective alternative to penicillin for treating early syphilis.
How similar studies have gone: This builds on a prior pilot study and uses a larger, multisite randomized design to confirm efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klausner, Jeffrey David — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Klausner, Jeffrey David
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.