Title

Gentian Violet Vs. Nystatin Oral Suspension for Treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
A Phase III, Open-Label, Randomized, Assessment-Blinded Clinical Trial to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Gentian Violet Oral Solution to That of Nystatin Oral Suspension for the Treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in HIV-1 Infected Participants in Non-U.S. Settings
  • Phase

    Phase 3
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    221
The purpose of this study was to see which one of two medicines (topical gentian violet [GV] or nystatin oral suspension) was better than the other in treating Oral Candidiasis (OC). This was measured by whether the study participant still had OC or sores in his/her mouth after 14 days of treatment. Also, safety and tolerability of GV and nystatin in the treatment of OC were assessed.
A5265 was a phase III, open-label (both the researchers and participants know which treatment was being administered) clinical trial to compare the safety and efficacy of topical GV to that of oral nystatin suspension. Male and female HIV-1 positive participants ≥ 18 years of age were randomized (as if by the toss of a coin) with equal probability and stratified by CD4+ T-cell counts and the use of antiretroviral therapy at the time of study entry to receive either topical GV solution (5 mL swish and gargle for 1 minute and spit two times daily) or nystatin oral suspension (5 mL swish for 1 minute and swallow four times daily) for 14 days. Therapy was considered as failed if participants have no clinical improvement (assessed by severity of pseudomembranous candidiasis) during either treatment regimen. Evaluation of signs and symptoms of oral candidiasis was done by an evaluator who was blinded to the treatment assignment. A total of 494 participants was expected to enroll in the study but due to early study closure only 221 enrolled; and participants are expected to be on the study for about 13 weeks.
Study Started
Jun 30
2011
Primary Completion
Sep 30
2012
Study Completion
Jan 31
2014
Results Posted
Feb 16
2015
Estimate
Last Update
Feb 16
2015
Estimate

Drug Gentian Violet

Participants were administered topical Gentian violet solution, orally, twice daily for 14 days.

Drug Nystatin oral suspension

Participants were administered Nystatin oral suspension 4 times a day for 14 days.

Arm A: Topical GV solution Experimental

Topical GV 0.00165% solution (5 mL swish and gargle for 1 minute and expectorate [spit] 2 times per day [BID]) for 14 days

Arm B: Nystatin oral suspension Active Comparator

Nystatin oral suspension (5 mL of 100,000 units/mL swish for 1 minute and swallow 4 times per day [QID]) for 14 days

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

HIV-1 infection, documented by any licensed rapid HIV test or HIV enzyme or chemiluminescence immunoassay (E/CIA) test kit at any time prior to study entry and confirmed by licensed Western blot or a second antibody test by a method other than the initial rapid HIV and/or E/CIA, or by HIV-1 antigen, plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load.
Pseudomembranous candidiasis documented by a complete oral exam (i.e., white or yellow spots or plaques with an underlying erythematous base, located in any part of the oral cavity) at the screening visit. Participants with documented angular chelitis and/or erythematous candidiasis without pseudomembranous candidiasis were not eligible to enroll in the study.
If on an antiretroviral therapy (ART), initiation of regimen at least 12 weeks prior to study entry, and willingness of participant to remain on current ART regimen until the study-defined 14-day treatment period was complete. NOTE: Participants who were not ART-naïve and not on ART were eligible to participate in the study if they did not intend to initiate ART during the study- defined 14-day treatment period.
CD4+ cell count obtained within 30 days prior to study entry at a DAIDS-approved laboratory.

Exclusion Criteria:

Documented or presumptive signs or symptoms of esophageal candidiasis (e.g., dysphagia) during the screening period unless endoscopic examination of the esophagus was performed, and fungal esophagitis were excluded.
Use of any investigational drug currently or within 30 days prior to study entry. NOTE: For purposes of this study, drugs available under an FDA-authorized expanded access program was NOT considered investigational.
Concurrent vaginal candidiasis within 21 days prior to study entry.
Use of inhaled or systemic corticosteroids within 14 days prior to study entry.
Use of any antifungal agents within 30 days prior to study entry.
Anticipated need for systemic or oral/topical antifungal agents for other diagnoses within the study-defined 14-day treatment period.
Intend to initiate ART during the screening period, at study entry, or within the study-defined 14-day treatment period.
Intend to use any additional oral topical treatments within the study- defined 14-day treatment period.
Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of study drugs or their formulation.
Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
Serious illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, requiring systemic treatment.
Hospitalization within 30 days prior to study entry for HIV or HIV-related conditions.
Previous or current history of porphyria.
Presence of oral warts during the screening period or at the study entry visit before randomization.
Current wearing of full dentures or a maxillary partial denture at study entry

Summary

Gentian Violet

Nystatin

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term Gentian Violet Nystatin

Number of Participants With Clinical Efficacy

The primary endpoint is clinical efficacy defined as cure (absence of lesions) or improvement (a decrease in severity of lesions) after 14 days of treatment. The oral cavity will be split arbitrarily into 6 sites: left lower and upper labial mucosa and buccal mucosa, right lower and upper labial mucosa and buccal mucosa, hard palate, soft palate, tongue (dorsum, lateral, and ventral), and floor of mouth. Severity is scored using a scoring system from 0 to 3 (0 corresponds to absence of lesions, and 3 corresponds to presence of extensive confluent lesions) which leads to a composite severity score ranging from 0 to 18 after adding up the scores from all 6 sites. Complete success is assigned if the composite score after treatment equals to 0. Improved/partial response is assigned if the composite score after treatment is less than the baseline score. The blinded evaluator scores the severity of lesions by examining different lesion characteristics.

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

76.0
participants

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

73.0
participants

Number of Participant With Symptom

Symptoms were assessed using a visual analog scale where the level of discomfort and pain were recorded and quantified using a scoring system from 0 to 3. 0=no discomfort/pain; 1=mild discomfort/pain; 2=Moderate discomfort/pain; 3=Severe discomfort/pain.

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

Discomfort at end of treatment

102.0
participants

Discomfort at entry

106.0
participants

Pain at end of treatment

102.0
participants

Pain at entry

106.0
participants

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

Discomfort at end of treatment

102.0
participants

Discomfort at entry

111.0
participants

Pain at end of treatment

102.0
participants

Pain at entry

111.0
participants

Quantitative Yeast Colony Counts

If quantitative yeast culture yielding < 20 CFU/mL of Candida spp., then we call this mycological success

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

At end of treatment (week 2)

6.9374
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.1438

At entry, week 0

7.2497
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.2382

At week 6

6.7388
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.3469

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

At end of treatment (week 2)

5.8888
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.3970

At entry, week 0

7.0037
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.0584

At week 6

6.5929
CFU/mL (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.3668

Tolerance

The investigators will measure tolerance using a scale from 0 to 3 (0=No side effects experienced, no changes in treatment; 1=Some side effects experienced, but not enough to modify treatment; 2=Some side effects experienced, resulted in treatment interruption; 3=Side effects experienced, resulted in treatment discontinuation.)

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

No side effects, no changes in treatment

100.0
participants

Some side effects, no changes in treatment

3.0
participants

Some side effects, treatment interruption

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

No side effects, no changes in treatment

98.0
participants

Some side effects, no changes in treatment

6.0
participants

Some side effects, treatment interruption

1.0
participants

Number of Participants Who Were Adherent.

Adherence was reported as a dichotomous variable (adherence vs. non-adherence). Participants who have missing doses less than 15% will be considered as adherent, i.e., if a participant is in the GV arm, then the cutoff point is 28*0.15=4 doses; and for the nystatin arm is 56*0.15=8 doses.

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

Adherent

95.0
participants

Non-adherent

9.0
participants

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

Adherent

95.0
participants

Non-adherent

10.0
participants

Self-Assessment of General Health

Participants rated their general health on two scales. One is a five point scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1=Excellent; 2=Very Good; 3=Good; 4=Fair; 5=Poor)

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

Week 0: Excellent

1.0
participants

Week 0: Fair

39.0
participants

Week 0: Good

52.0
participants

Week 0: Poor

5.0
participants

Week 0: Very Good

13.0
participants

Week 6: Excellent

5.0
participants

Week 6: Fair

18.0
participants

Week 6: Good

42.0
participants

Week 6: Poor

2.0
participants

Week 6: Very Good

29.0
participants

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

Week 0: Excellent

4.0
participants

Week 0: Fair

30.0
participants

Week 0: Good

56.0
participants

Week 0: Poor

9.0
participants

Week 0: Very Good

11.0
participants

Week 6: Excellent

7.0
participants

Week 6: Fair

18.0
participants

Week 6: Good

42.0
participants

Week 6: Poor

3.0
participants

Week 6: Very Good

25.0
participants

Number of Participants Who Found GV and Nystatin Acceptable.

Acceptability was defined as the willingness to use the drug if it is proven effective to treat oral candidiasis. Participants were asked whether or not they would be willing to use the assigned treatment via questionnaires.

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

100.0
participants

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

98.0
participants

Total

221
Participants

HIV RNA Viral Load

4.96
log10(copies/ml) (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1.26

Age, Customized

Antiretroviral Therapy Usage

CD4 Count

Race/Ethnicity, Customized

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension

Drop/Withdrawal Reasons

Arm A: Topical GV Solution

Arm B: Nystatin Oral Suspension