New therapies may be on the horizon
In a randomized, double-blind, phase 2b trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine that included more than 220 participants, patients who received an investigational product containing Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (Lactin-V) were less likely to have recurrent bacterial vaginosis at 12 weeks, compared with those who received placebo (30% vs. 45%).
A product in development known as TOL-463, a boric acid–based vaginal anti-infective enhanced with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, may be safe and effective, a phase 2 study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests.
Investigators in the United Kingdom designed a trial to compare lactic acid gel and metronidazole, and the findings published in the Trials journal may clarify inconsistent results from prior studies.
Furthermore, preclinical research in Pathogens and Disease has identified cationic amphiphiles that might help fight the biofilm that is formed with Gardnerella vaginalis in patients with bacterial vaginosis, Dr. Birenbaum said.
Finally, an exploratory study in Israel published in Nature Medicine evaluated vaginal microbiome transplants in five patients, three of whom required repeat transplantation. Four patients had long-term remission, and one had a reduction in symptoms
Dr. Birenbaum is a reviewer for UpToDate. Dr. Rasmussen had no relevant disclosures.