Two clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Clindesse for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. A clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was defined by the presence of a homogeneous vaginal discharge that (a) has a pH of greater than 4.5, (b) emits a “fishy” amine odor when mixed with a 10% KOH solution, and (c) contains clue cells on microscopic examination. Gram’s stain results consistent with a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis include (a) markedly reduced or absent Lactobacillus morphology, (b) predominance of Gardnerellamorphotype, and (c) absent or few white blood cells.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study involving 144 non-pregnant female patients aged 18 to 64 with a baseline Nugent score ≥4, Clindesse demonstrated statistically significantly higher cure rates over placebo as measured by therapeutic cure, clinical cure, and Nugent score cure (Table 2) assessed at 21-30 days after administration of the drug. Therapeutic cure was a composite endpoint which required both clinical cure and Nugent score cure. Clinical cure required normal vaginal discharge, vaginal pH < 4.7, < 20% clue cells on wet mount preparation, and negative “whiff” test (detection of amine odor on addition of 10% KOH solution to sample of the vaginal discharge). A Nugent score of 0-3 was considered a Nugent score cure. The Nugent scoring is based on microscopic examination of the Gram’s stained vaginal smears for quantification of specific bacterial morphotypes. Cure rates were consistently higher for Clindesse compared to placebo for the following demographic subsets: age, race, height, weight, sexual behavior, and recalcitrant infection status.
Table 2. Efficacy of Clindesse for Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study
N = number of patients in treatment group (modified intent-to-treat population defined as all subjects randomized who received at least one dose of study medication, and who had a baseline Nugent score of at least 4)
†Treatment difference = Clindesse minus placebo cure rates
In a second controlled clinical study involving 432 patients aged 18 to 78 with a baseline Nugent score of ≥4, 221 women self-administered a single dose of Clindesse, and 211 women self-administered a single daily dose of a formulation of clindamycin vaginal cream for 7 days. A single dose of Clindesse was shown to be similar to 7 daily doses of the clindamycin vaginal cream for treatment of bacterial vaginosis as measured by therapeutic cure, clinical cure of Nugent score cure assessed at 21-30 days after administration of the drug in the modified intent-to-treat population (Table 3) and for the per protocol population (Table 4). The study endpoints were identical to those described above for the placebo-controlled study. Statistical analyses did not reveal any significant differences when controlling for the following demographic variables: age, race, height, weight, sexual behavior, and recalcitrant infection status.
The cure rates reported in the clinical studies with Clindesse were based on resolution of 4 out of 4 Amsel criteria and a Nugent score of < 4, while the criteria for cure in previous clinical studies with the clindamycin vaginal cream were based solely on resolution of 2 out of 4 Amsel criteria, resulting in higher reported rates of cure for bacterial vaginosis.
Table 3. Efficacy of Clindesse in Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis in a Randomized, Investigator-Blind, Active-Controlled Comparative Study – Modified-Intent-to-Treat
†Treatment difference = Clindesse minus clindamycin vaginal cream cure rates
N = number of patients in treatment group (modified intent-to-treat population defined as all subjects randomized who received at least one dose of study medication, and who had a baseline Nugent score of at least 4)
Table 4. Efficacy of Clindesse in Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis in a Randomized, Investigator-Blind, Active-Controlled Comparative Study – Per Protocol
†Treatment difference = Clindesse minus clindamycin vaginal cream cure rates
N = number of patients in treatment group (per protocol population defined as all subjects included in the modified intent-to-treat population who completed the study without significant protocol violation)
‡Four subject (2 from each treatment group) did not have complete Nugent scores and were not included in the Nugent Score cure analysis