Phase I study on the pharmacokinetics of intravaginal, self-administered artesunate vaginal pessaries among women in Kenya

We are conducting a single-arm, phase I trial with a sample size of 12 female volunteers. Participants will self-administer artesunate vaginal pessaries in the study clinic daily for 5 consecutive days. Participants will have their blood drawn prior to receiving the first dose of artesunate on day one of the study and then will receive 8 blood draws on study day five, prior to artesunate administration and at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 8 hours after pessary administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters of artesunate and DHA will be calculated by way of quantitative analysis of with determination of maximum concentration (Cmax), time to Cmax (Tmax), area under the serum concentration versus time curve (AUC), apparent clearance, and elimination half-life (t1/2).