ABSTRACT

Fernández-Romero, José A., Mitchell Thorn, Stuart G. Turville, Kanani Titchen, Kristin M. Sudol, Jifan Li, Todd Miller, Melissa Robbiani, Robin A. Maguire, Robert W. Buckheit Jr., Tracy L. Hartman, and David M. Phillips. 2007. "Carrageenan/MIV-150 (PC-815), a combination microbicide," Sexually Transmitted Diseases 34(1): 9–14. (offsite link)

Objective
The objective of this article is to study the effect of PC-815, a novel combination microbicide containing carrageenan and the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) MIV-150, in blocking HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections in vitro as compared with Carraguard alone.

Goal
The goal of this study was to develop a combination microbicide that is more efficacious than Carraguard against HIV-1 and HIV-2.

Study design
The microtiter syncytial assay was used to evaluate: (1) the antiviral and virucidal activity of MIV-150 against HIV-1MN; (2) the additive effect of MIV-150 when combined with carrageenan; and (3) a possible interference of seminal fluid in the antiviral activity of these compounds.

Results
MIV-150 effectively inactivated free virus. Combination of MIV-150 and Carraguard demonstrated an additive antiviral effect. Seminal fluid had no effect on the antiviral activity of MIV-150 or Carraguard. The average concentration that blocks 50 percent of infection (EC50) for PC-815 was approximately 10 times stronger than Carraguard for the different clinical isolates used in the study.

Conclusion
Theoretically, PC-815 is likely to be a more efficacious microbicide than Carraguard.

Return to Nonclinical Laboratory Studies: PC-815 (Carraguard + MIV-150) project page

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