Using Artesunate Vaginal Inserts to Treat Cervical Pre-Cancer

A Phase II Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Trial of Artesunate Vaginal Inserts for the Treatment of Patients With Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN2/3)

PHASE2 · Frantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC · NCT04098744

This study is testing whether artesunate vaginal inserts can help women with cervical pre-cancer feel better and improve their condition.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment78 (estimated)
Ages25 Years to 100 Years
SexFemale
SponsorFrantz Viral Therapeutics, LLC (industry)
Locations7 sites (Fort Myers, Florida and 6 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04098744 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of artesunate vaginal inserts in treating women with cervical high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3). Participants are randomly assigned to receive either artesunate or a placebo over three 5-day cycles, with follow-up visits to assess treatment response and safety. The study includes telehealth options for dosing visits and requires participants to undergo a LEEP procedure at week 17 to evaluate histopathologic response. The primary goal is to determine the histopathologic response to the treatment, while secondary objectives focus on safety and viral clearance.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult females aged 25 and older with biopsy-proven HPV-associated CIN2/3.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, nursing, or have active autoimmune diseases or concurrent malignancies may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a non-surgical option for women with CIN2/3, potentially preventing the progression to cervical cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored non-surgical treatments for CIN, but the use of artesunate vaginal inserts is a novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult females age ≥ 25 years
* Capable of informed consent
* Any HPV genotype detectable by DNA test/HPV genotyping
* Colposcopically-directed, histologically confirmed tissue diagnosis of cervical high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN2, CIN3, or CIN2/3)
* Women of childbearing potential agree to use birth control through week17 of the study.
* Weight ≥ 50kg

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant and nursing women
* Active autoimmune disease
* Taking immunosuppressive medication
* HIV seropositivity
* Immunocompromised subjects
* Evidence of concurrent cervical adenocarcinoma in situ
* Concurrent malignancy except for nonmelanoma skin lesions, because treatment for other cancers have systemic effects

Where this trial is running

Fort Myers, Florida and 6 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: CIN 2/3, HPV Infection, Pre-Cancerous Dysplasia, Cervical Dysplasia, HPV Related Disease, treatment study, cancer prevention, non-surgical

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.