HIV InfectionsPHARAOHNCT07516548
Pharmacokinetic Study of Long-acting Antiretrovirals and Contraceptives in HIV
An observational study of HIV Infections and Contraception, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in Botswana.
Trial summary
This study is being done to understand how long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and hormonal contraceptive methods affect each other when used at the same time. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- HIV Infections, Contraception, Drug-drug Interaction
- What is being tested?
- Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and No PrEP
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- How many people
- 105 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBotswana
- Study dates
- 24 Jan 2025to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult females aged 18 years or older who are HIV-seronegative
Parent Tshireletso Study Inclusion Criteria:
- Female 18 years of age or older and willing and able to provide an informed consent
- < 14 days after delivery (calendar day of birth = day 0)
- Negative HIV screening test (conducted at the time of enrolment)
- Female <30 years old or has had < 3 prior pregnancies (Gravida 1, 2, or 3 including this pregnancy)
- Plan to stay and receive postpartum and pediatric care in the Gaborone or Molepolole region for 24 months
Parent Tshireletso Study Exclusion Criteria
- Receiving carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, oxycarbazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, systemic dexamethasone (>1 dose oral/IV), or St. John's wort
- Suspected to have, recently diagnosed with, or on treatment for TB (due to interaction with rifampicin)
- Previous hypersensitivity reaction to CAB or other INSTI
- Unstable medical or psychiatric condition making it unlikely they will be able to adhere to injections every 2 months
- Plan for pediatric and post-partum care outside the government system (private clinics)
- Inflammatory skin condition that compromises the safety of the intramuscular injection
- Weight <35kg
Parent Doris Duke Study Inclusion Criteria Post-partum females included;
- if HIV-uninfected or unknown HIV status, willing to be tested for HIV
- if HIV-infected, documented to be on DTG as part of an antiretroviral treatment regimen
- maternal age >18 years,
- ability to speak English or Setswana
- intend to be available for follow up in Molepolole, Gaborone or Mochudi for 18 months post-delivery
- have access to a cell phone (including phone of friend or relative)
Parent Doris Duke Study Exclusion Criteria Post-partum females excluded if
- did not attend antenatal care or were not included in Tsepamo surveillance
- maternal age <18,
- females who do not speak English or Setswana,
- unable or unwilling to give consent
- will not be able to attend follow up at a study site
- do not have access to any cell phone for follow up calls
Additional Inclusion Criteria for this PK Study
- For DMPA and ETG implant groups, intends to initiate or continue use of DMPA or ETG implant for at least another three or six months, respectively,
- For the CAB-LA groups, have received at least three consecutive CAB injections on time, including the one administered concurrently while starting a contraceptive method,
- Willing to undergo phlebotomy every 4 weeks for the duration of the sub-study period Additional Exclusion Criteria for this PK Study
- Use or anticipated use of nicotine-containing products (e.g., cigarettes or hookahs) known to interact with CAB-LA for the duration of the sub-study period 2) Use within the previous 90 days, current use, or planned future concomitant use of other hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptive methods 3) BMI≥35 4) Has any of the following laboratory abnormalities within the last year:
- Serum ALT>5x ULN at the time of screening,
- Serum creatinine >2.5x ULN at the time of screening. 5) Has any other condition that, in the opinion of the sub-study PI/designee, would preclude informed consent, make study participation unsafe, or complicate interpretation of study outcome 6) HIV infected females on the Doris Duke parent study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Botswana1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Princess Marina Hospital
Bontleng, Gaborone
Chelsea Morroni, MBChB, DFSRH, DTMH, MPhil, MPH, +267 765 24112, cmorroni@ed.ac.uk
Bame Bame, +267 72727347, bbame@bhp.org.bw
About this study
Official title: Pharmacokinetic Study of Long-acting Antiretrovirals and Contraceptive Options in HIV Prevention
This study is being done to understand how long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and hormonal contraceptive methods affect each other when used at the same time. Women who are already using CAB-LA or not using PrEP will choose to join one of several groups based on whether they use injectable contraceptive (IM DMPA), an etonogestrel implant, or no hormonal contraceptive. Participants will have study visits every 4 to 12 weeks for up to 12 or 24 weeks after starting a contraceptive method to collect blood samples and measure levels of CAB-LA and hormone concentrations. The study will compare these levels to see if taking CAB-LA changes hormone concentrations or if using hormonal contraception changes CAB-LA drug levels. Safety, side effects, satisfaction, and continuation of CAB-LA PrEP and contraceptive methods will also be evaluated.
Read the detailed description
Long-acting (LA) HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), such as injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is increasingly available and has the potential to address barriers to adherence seen with daily oral PrEP. LA PrEP regimens can expand options for women and providers to individualize prevention strategies, provide a powerful prevention tool for those facing adherence challenges with oral regimens, and reduce the burden on health systems in resource-limited settings. Another major threat to women's health is unintended pregnancies, and women at risk for HIV face unique challenges in uptake and continuation of long-acting contraceptives. Use of CAB-LA may create synergy with long-acting contraceptives, fostering more consistent uptake and improved health outcomes.
This proposed research study is a prospective, non-randomized, parallel-group pharmacokinetic (PK) study among a sentinel cohort of five distinct groups of AGYW, and will leverage existing control groups. The study will be conducted in Botswana.
This study will generate critical data to guide future implementation studies integrating CAB-LA PrEP and contraceptive services. Providing an array of prevention and reproductive health options has the potential to empower women to make informed decisions, improve adherence and continuation, and inform real-world considerations for co-delivery or future co-formulations of PrEP and contraceptives.
Our central hypotheses are the following:
- CAB-LA will not adversely influence hormonal contraceptive concentrations;
- Hormonal contraceptive method use will not adversely modify CAB-LA concentrations below therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations.
Primary Objectives:
- To evaluate any associations between CAB-LA exposure and hormonal contraceptive use in the three groups of IM DMPA, ETG implant, and non-hormonal method users by generating geometric mean hormone concentrations throughout 12 weeks for IM DMPA or 24 weeks for ETG implant and no hormonal method groups (Aim 1a)
- To evaluate any associations between hormonal contraceptive exposure and CAB-LA use by generating geometric mean trough CAB-LA concentrations measured immediately prior to dosing of next CAB-LA (Aim 1b)
Exploratory Objectives
- To assess safety, including side effects, satisfaction, and continuation rates of both LA ART/PrEP and hormonal contraceptive method (Aim 2a)
- To qualitatively explore decision-making around PrEP and contraceptive method options, study experiences with use of/switch to CAB-LA and contraceptive method (Aim 2b)
- Conditions
- HIV Infections, Contraception, Drug-drug Interaction, PrEP, Long-acting Injectable Cabotegravir for PrEP
- Being tested
- Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), No PrEP
- Keywords
- Adolescent girls and young women, Injectable cabotegravir, Botswana, Long-acting injectable cabotegravir, Pharmacokinetic study, PrEP, HIV prevention
- Medical subject headings
- HIV Infections
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Drug
Injectable cabotegravir 600 mg administered as long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
No PrEPOther
No HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis administered
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: CAB-LA + IM DMPA | Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate 150mg (IM DMPA) Receives: Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) | |
| Group 2: CAB-LA + ETG implant | Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + etonogestrel (ETG) implant 68mg Receives: Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) | |
| Group 3: CAB-LA + no hormonal method | Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + no hormonal method Receives: Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) | |
| Group 4: No PrEP + IM DMPA | No PrEP + intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (IM DMPA) 150mg Receives: Other: No PrEP | |
| Group 5: No PrEP + ETG implant | No PrEP + etonogestrel (ETG) implant 68mg Receives: Other: No PrEP |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To evaluate any associations between CAB-LA exposure and hormonal contraceptive use in the three groups of IM DMPA, ETG implant, and non-hormonal method users by generating geometric mean hormone concentrations (Aim 1a)
Mean hormone concentrations starting at 0 week (when feasible), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks, as applicable to the three contraceptive groups, after contraceptive method initiation and at least after receiving 3rd dose of CAB-LA if in the CAB-LA groups.
Measured: 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks for IM DMPA; 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks for ETG implant and non-hormonal method users
To evaluate any associations between hormonal contraceptive exposure and CAB-LA use by generating geometric mean trough CAB-LA concentrations measured immediately prior to dosing of next CAB-LA (Aim 1b)
Mean trough CAB-LA concentrations prior to next dosing of CAB-LA
Measured: Immediately prior to each scheduled CAB-LA injection
Secondary outcomes (4)
Incidence of adverse events associated with CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive methods (Aim 2a1)
Number and proportion of participants experiencing adverse events, graded using the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Adverse Event Grading Table.
Measured: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Participant satisfaction with CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive method measured by questionnaire (Aim 2a2)
Participant-reported satisfaction scores assessed using a questionnaire.
Measured: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Continuation rates of CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive method (Aim 2a3)
Proportion of participants continuing use of CAB-LA and the contraceptive method at each time point.
Measured: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Participants' experiences and decision-making regarding CAB-LA and contraceptive method options assessed by semi-structured interviews (Aim 2b)
Qualitative assessment of participants' experiences, preferences, and decision-making processes regarding CAB-LA and contraceptive method use or switching, collected through semi-structured interviews conducted by trained study staff and audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Measured: At the end of study participation or up to 12 months after study participation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Apr 2026
- Study start24 Jan 2025
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HIV InfectionsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Alabama at BirminghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of Nebraska, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Botswana Harvard Health Partnership
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rena Patel, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Investigators
- Rena Patel, MD, MPH, MPhil, Principal investigator, University of Alabama at BirminghamRebecca Zash, Principal investigator, Division of Infectious Disease Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07516548
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-300013405
- Other IDs
- R01AI155052
- Acronym
- PHARAOH
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pharmacokinetic Study of Long-acting Antiretrovirals and Contraceptive Options in HIV Prevention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07516548
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PHARAOH / IRB-300013405
- Conditions
- HIV Infections, Contraception, Drug-drug Interaction, PrEP, Long-acting Injectable Cabotegravir for PrEP
- Keywords
- Adolescent girls and young women, Injectable cabotegravir, Botswana, Long-acting injectable cabotegravir, Pharmacokinetic study, PrEP, HIV prevention
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 105 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of Nebraska, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Botswana Harvard Health Partnership
- Study start
- 24 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is being done to understand how long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and hormonal contraceptive methods affect each other when used at the same time. Women who are already using CAB-LA or not using PrEP will choose to join one of several groups based on whether they use injectable contraceptive (IM DMPA), an etonogestrel implant, or no hormonal contraceptive. Participants will have study visits every 4 to 12 weeks for up to 12 or 24 weeks after starting a contraceptive method to collect blood samples and measure levels of CAB-LA and hormone concentrations. The study will compare these levels to see if taking CAB-LA changes hormone concentrations or if using hormonal contraception changes CAB-LA drug levels. Safety, side effects, satisfaction, and continuation of CAB-LA PrEP and contraceptive methods will also be evaluated.
Detailed description
Long-acting (LA) HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), such as injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is increasingly available and has the potential to address barriers to adherence seen with daily oral PrEP. LA PrEP regimens can expand options for women and providers to individualize prevention strategies, provide a powerful prevention tool for those facing adherence challenges with oral regimens, and reduce the burden on health systems in resource-limited settings. Another major threat to women's health is unintended pregnancies, and women at risk for HIV face unique challenges in uptake and continuation of long-acting contraceptives. Use of CAB-LA may create synergy with long-acting contraceptives, fostering more consistent uptake and improved health outcomes.
This proposed research study is a prospective, non-randomized, parallel-group pharmacokinetic (PK) study among a sentinel cohort of five distinct groups of AGYW, and will leverage existing control groups. The study will be conducted in Botswana.
This study will generate critical data to guide future implementation studies integrating CAB-LA PrEP and contraceptive services. Providing an array of prevention and reproductive health options has the potential to empower women to make informed decisions, improve adherence and continuation, and inform real-world considerations for co-delivery or future co-formulations of PrEP and contraceptives.
Our central hypotheses are the following:
- CAB-LA will not adversely influence hormonal contraceptive concentrations;
- Hormonal contraceptive method use will not adversely modify CAB-LA concentrations below therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations.
Primary Objectives:
- To evaluate any associations between CAB-LA exposure and hormonal contraceptive use in the three groups of IM DMPA, ETG implant, and non-hormonal method users by generating geometric mean hormone concentrations throughout 12 weeks for IM DMPA or 24 weeks for ETG implant and no hormonal method groups (Aim 1a)
- To evaluate any associations between hormonal contraceptive exposure and CAB-LA use by generating geometric mean trough CAB-LA concentrations measured immediately prior to dosing of next CAB-LA (Aim 1b)
Exploratory Objectives
- To assess safety, including side effects, satisfaction, and continuation rates of both LA ART/PrEP and hormonal contraceptive method (Aim 2a)
- To qualitatively explore decision-making around PrEP and contraceptive method options, study experiences with use of/switch to CAB-LA and contraceptive method (Aim 2b)
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 5
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: CAB-LA + IM DMPA | – | Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate 150mg (IM DMPA) |
| Group 2: CAB-LA + ETG implant | – | Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + etonogestrel (ETG) implant 68mg |
| Group 3: CAB-LA + no hormonal method | – | Drug: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Injectable cabotegravir 600mg + no hormonal method |
| Group 4: No PrEP + IM DMPA | – | Other: No PrEPNo PrEP + intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (IM DMPA) 150mg |
| Group 5: No PrEP + ETG implant | – | Other: No PrEPNo PrEP + etonogestrel (ETG) implant 68mg |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult females aged 18 years or older who are HIV-seronegative
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA)Injectable cabotegravir 600 mg administered as long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). | Drug | Group 1: CAB-LA + IM DMPA, Group 2: CAB-LA + ETG implant, Group 3: CAB-LA + no hormonal method |
| No PrEPNo HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis administered | Other | Group 4: No PrEP + IM DMPA, Group 5: No PrEP + ETG implant |
Primary outcome
To evaluate any associations between CAB-LA exposure and hormonal contraceptive use in the three groups of IM DMPA, ETG implant, and non-hormonal method users by generating geometric mean hormone concentrations (Aim 1a)
Time frame: 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks for IM DMPA; 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks for ETG implant and non-hormonal method users
Mean hormone concentrations starting at 0 week (when feasible), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks, as applicable to the three contraceptive groups, after contraceptive method initiation and at least after receiving 3rd dose of CAB-LA if in the CAB-LA groups.
To evaluate any associations between hormonal contraceptive exposure and CAB-LA use by generating geometric mean trough CAB-LA concentrations measured immediately prior to dosing of next CAB-LA (Aim 1b)
Time frame: Immediately prior to each scheduled CAB-LA injection
Mean trough CAB-LA concentrations prior to next dosing of CAB-LA
4 secondary outcomes
Incidence of adverse events associated with CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive methods (Aim 2a1)
Time frame: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Participant satisfaction with CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive method measured by questionnaire (Aim 2a2)
Time frame: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Continuation rates of CAB-LA and hormonal contraceptive method (Aim 2a3)
Time frame: 12 and 24 weeks after contraceptive method initiation
Participants' experiences and decision-making regarding CAB-LA and contraceptive method options assessed by semi-structured interviews (Aim 2b)
Time frame: At the end of study participation or up to 12 months after study participation
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Rena Patel, MD, MPH, MPhil principal investigator
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Rebecca Zash principal investigator
Division of Infectious Disease Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of HIV Infections and Contraception, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in Botswana.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Botswana. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Rena Patel, MD, MPH (205.934.8145, renapatel@uabmc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To evaluate any associations between CAB-LA exposure and hormonal contraceptive use in the three groups of IM DMPA, ETG implant, and non-hormonal method users by generating geometric mean hormone concentrations (Aim 1a) (time frame: 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks for IM DMPA; 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks for ETG implant and non-hormonal method users). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.