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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04597424

Combined Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Men Who Have Sex With Men and Using Oral Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/ Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

The study ANRS 174 Doxyvac is a clinical trial that will use Combined Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Men Who Have Sex with Men and using oral TDF/FTC for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and vaccination with Bexsero.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France

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About this study

This is a randomized study with a factorial design for the 2 biomedical interventions (interventions 1 and 2).

Subjects will be randomized and assigned to two different interventions:

  • Intervention 1: PEP with doxycycline or no PEP. Subjects will be randomized 2/1 to receive doxycycline PEP or no PEP
  • Intervention 2: Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) or no vaccine Subjects will be randomized 1/1 to received 2 doses of Bexsero® vaccine (at the first visit and two months later) or no vaccine

Participants will be randomized in one of the following arms:

  • Arm 1: doxycycline and Bexsero® vaccine (240 participants)
  • Arm 2: doxycycline and no Bexsero® vaccine (240 participants)
  • Arm 3: no doxycycline and Bexsero® vaccine (120 participants)
  • Arm 4: no doxycycline and no Bexsero® vaccine (120 participants)

Randomization will be stratified by whether or not the participant enters in the ancillary study "intestinal microbiota".

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Mens who have sex with mens (MSM) enrolled in the ANRS PREVENIR study.
  • At least 6-month experience with PrEP (within the ANRS PREVENIR study or before starting the ANRS PREVENIR study).
  • No clinical manifestation of primary HIV infection and no symptom of bacterial STI (chlamydia, gonorrhea, M. genitalium or syphilis).
  • History of documented bacterial STI with at least one episode in the last 12 months.
  • Participants who agree to sign the information and consent form specific to this study.
  • Valid health insurance (State medical aid (AME) is not health insurance).

Exclusion criteria

  • Syphilis diagnosed prior to inclusion without serologic evidence of cure (cure is defined as decreased by at least 4-fold of the non-treponemal antibody titer [Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL), Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)] relative to the titer at initiation of treatment of syphilis).
  • HIV infection.
  • Previous vaccination with Bexsero® or any other meningococcal B vaccine.
  • Vaccination during the 4 weeks (28 days) preceding the first vaccination of the study.
  • Previous vaccination with an experimental vaccine in the previous 5 years.
  • Systemic treatment with retinoids : isotretinoin (Acnetrait®, Procuta®, Curacné®, Contracné®, …).
  • Treatment with enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, ….).
  • Participant who has received immunoglobulins, a transfusion of blood or blood derivatives in the last 3 months.
  • Known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency; immunosuppressive treatment in the last 6 months, such as cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy; long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy (prednisone or equivalent for more than 2 consecutive weeks in the last 3 months)
  • Known allergy to antibiotics of the tetracycline family.
  • Known allergy to any component of the Bexsero® vaccine.
  • Known allergy to any component of the doxycycline pill.
  • Known allergy to latex (contained in the vaccine cap).
  • Thrombocytopenia or any other known coagulation disorder, which would be a contraindication to an intramuscular injection of Bexsero® vaccine.
  • Documented oesophageal lesion
  • Acute respiratory infection or severe acute febrile illness or systemic reaction that may present a significant risk if vaccinated in the month prior to inclusion.
  • Any condition (clinical) that, in the investigator's opinion, would contraindicate intramuscular vaccination and blood sampling.
  • Oral Anticoagulant treatment.
  • Continuous treatment with doxycycline at inclusion.
  • Vitamin A treatment in case of intake of 10 000 international unit or more.
  • Participation in another research including an exclusion period still in progress at the time of inclusion.
  • Under guardianship or curator, or deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision.

Treatment and study plan

Experimental: doxycycline

Drug

2 tablets of doxycycline 100 mg (monohydrate form) will be taken orally after each risk sexual intercourse, ideally within 24 hours after sex and no more than 72 hours. PEP should not be taken more than 3 times over a 7 days' period.

If a participant has risk sexual intercourse for several consecutive days, PEP should be taken at least 48 hours apart and no more than 3 times 2 tablets over 7 days. A maximum of 3 intakes of 2 tablets will be allowed over a period of 7 days.

Bexsero® vaccine

Biological

1st injection of Bexsero® vaccine at inclusion visit, 2nd injection at week 8.

Primary outcomes

  1. For intervention 1 (with or without doxycycline PEP) : 1st occurence of chlamydia or syphilis after the enrolment visit (Day 0)

    Time frame: Month 24

    Intervention 1 (with or without doxycycline PEP) is the first episode of chlamydia or syphilis after the enrolment visit (Day 0) (chlamydia and syphilis diagnosed at the enrolment visit will not be included in the primary endpoint).

    Chlamydia détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction.Syphilis détection will be performed by antigen.

  2. For intervention 2 with or without Bexsero® vaccine : 1st occurence of gonorrhea reported one month after the second vaccine injection

    Time frame: Month 24

    Intervention 2 (with or without Bexsero® vaccine) is the first episode of gonorrhea reported one month after the second vaccine injection, so starting at the month 3 visit (gonorrhea episodes diagnosed at the enrolment visit and before the month 3 visit will not be included in the primary endpoint).

    In these analyses, subject follow-up will be right-censored at the time of the first STI.

    Gonorrhea détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction.

Secondary outcomes

  1. - Occurrence of a first episode of each of the bacterial STIs as well as cumulative incidence of each bacterial STIs

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    • Occurrence of a first episode of each of the bacterial STIs as well as cumulative incidence of each bacterial STIs (syphilis, chlamydia; gonorrhoea and Mycoplasma genitalium) during the trial. In that case, the entire follow-up will be considered.

    Chlamydia détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction. Syphilis détection will be performed by antigen.

    Mycoplasma genitalium be performed by polymerase chain reaction. Gonorrhea détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction.

  2. - Occurrence of a new episode of anal or urinary gonorrhoea.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    • Occurrence of a new episode of anal or urinary gonorrhoea. Gonorrhea détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction.
  3. - Occurrence of a first symptomatic episode of chlamydia infection or gonorrhea

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    • Occurrence of a first symptomatic episode of chlamydia infection or gonorrhea at urinary or anal sites.

    Chlamydia détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction. Gonorrhea détection will be performed by polymerase chain reaction.

  4. - Proportion of patient with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and/or doxycycline resistant Staphylococcus aureus from throat. Fecal carriage of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae Composition of intestinal microbiota

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    detection from throat swab of carriage of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and/or doxycycline resistant Staphylococcus aureus, fecal carriage of ESBL (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase) -producing Enterobacteriaceae, and composition of the intestinal microbiota), all détected by polymerase chain reaction assay

  5. - Incidence of clinical and biological adverse events

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Proportion of patients experiencing a clinical or biological adverse events (ANRS scale)

  6. - Proportion of patients taking doxycycline

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Adherence will be evaluated by doxycycline pills taken by patients

  7. - Concentration of doxycycline in hair

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Adherence will be evaluated by détection of doxycyclin in hair

  8. - Proportion of patients with Antibiotic susceptibilities of all strains of NG (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), CT (chlamydiae trachomatis), MG (mycoplasma genitalium)

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    identification of Antibiotic susceptibilities of all strains of NG (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), CT (chlamydiae trachomatis), MG (mycoplasma genitalium) to doxycycline, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporin will be performed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction assay)

  9. - Rate of cured STIs after treatment with or without PEP.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    declaration of illnesses from infection to healing

  10. - Incidence of resistance to antibiotics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with or without doxycycline.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Proportion of participants with resistance to antibiotics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae will be evaluated by polymerase chain reaction to detect mutations

  11. - Incidence of Serum bactericidal activity against meningococcal and gonococcal antigens over time in participants of Bexsero®'s arm.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Proportion of participants with Serum bactericidal activity against meningococcal and gonococcal antigens

  12. - Incidence of clinical and biological adverse events following Bexsero® vaccine.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    Proportion of participants experiencing a clinical and biological adverse events following Bexsero® vaccine (ANRS scale)

  13. - Prevalence and incidence of meningococcal carriage in pharyngeal, anal and urine swabs.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    detection of meningococcal carriage in pharyngeal, anal and urine swabs will be performed

  14. - Impact of PEP or Bexsero® vaccine on sexual behaviour

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    rates of condom use for receptive anal intercourse, number of sexual partners and number of sex acts over time

  15. - Incidence of HIV infection with both prophylaxis strategies.

    Time frame: Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12, Month 18, Month 21, Month 24

    HIV infection will be tested by serology and western blot assay

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases

Other Gov

Registry information

Acronym: DOXYVAC

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Oct 22, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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