Drug Database: Tenofovir-Based Microbicides

Pharmacology

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Microbicide; nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). HIV-specific topical microbicides formulated with ARV drugs, such as tenofovir, are being developed as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) strategy to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. ARV-based topical microbicides are designed to inhibit the infection process at the vaginal or rectal mucosa and directly interfere with the HIV replication cycle.^11-14

Tenofovir, an adenosine nucleoside monophosphate (nucleotide) analog, is intracellularly phosphorylated to the active metabolite tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP). TFV-DP competitively inhibits the activity of HIV reverse transcriptase and causes DNA chain termination.^13,15

Several different tenofovir-based microbicide products have been studied in clinical trials, including vaginal dosage forms (gel, film, tablet, ring, and insert), as well as rectal dosage forms (gel, douche, and insert).^3-7,16-19 The tenofovir vaginal gel was the furthest along in development, with a completed Phase 3 efficacy study (FACTS 001; NCT01386294). However, results from this trial found that the gel did not protect women from acquiring HIV and that product adherence was an important factor in the overall results of the trial.^3,20 Currently, the tenofovir rectal douche, tenofovir rectal gel, and intravaginal rings (IVRs) containing tenofovir are the most advanced products in Phase 2 development.^4,7,8

Half-life (T_½)

In a Phase 1 study (NCT00984971) that compared rectally applied tenofovir gel to oral tenofovir DF in healthy adults without HIV, the tenofovir plasma half-life was approximately 4.6 hours with single rectal dosing, 6.6 hours with multiple rectal dosing, and 11 hours with single oral dosing.²¹

In a Phase 1 ascending dose study (NCT02750540), single doses of three tenofovir rectal douche products were evaluated in adult men without HIV. The median terminal half-life of the active metabolite (TFV-DP) ranged from 31 to 37 hours in rectal tissue homogenate and 19 to 25 hours in rectal tissue mucosal mononuclear cells.²²

Metabolism/Elimination

Tenofovir is not a CYP substrate. Approximately 70% to 80% of an intravenously administered dose of tenofovir is recovered in the urine as unchanged drug.¹³

Select Clinical Trials

Select Clinical Trials

Tenofovir-based microbicides for rectal use

Rectal gel

Study Identifiers: MTN-017; NCT01687218

Sponsor: CONRAD
Phase: 2
Status: This study has been completed.
Study Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and acceptability of reduced-glycerin tenofovir 1% gel applied rectally (either once daily or before and after sex [intermittently]) versus daily oral Truvada.
Study Population: Participants were sexually active male adults without HIV.⁴
Selected Study Results: Results published in Clin Infect Dis (2017) showed that reduced-glycerin tenofovir gel applied rectally was safe. Product adherence was comparable for both the intermittent gel and the daily oral Truvada regimens but was lower for the daily gel regimen. In terms of acceptability, participants liked daily oral Truvada significantly more than either of the rectal gel regimens. When assessing ease of use and likelihood of future use for each regimen, there was no statistically significant difference between the intermittent gel and the daily oral Truvada regimens.²³
Additional Published Material:

• AIDS Behav article, 2017: Preference of oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine versus rectal tenofovir reduced-glycerin 1% gel regimens for HIV prevention among cisgender men and transgender women who engage in receptive anal intercourse with men
• PLoS One article, 2017: High levels of adherence to a rectal microbicide gel and to oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) achieved in MTN-017 among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women

Additional clinical trials of tenofovir 1% rectal gel have been completed. Some of these studies are described below:

• MTN-007 (NCT01232803) was a Phase 1 study that evaluated the safety and acceptability of reduced glycerin tenofovir 1% gel for rectal use.²⁴ Results are available from PLoS One (2013).
• CHARM-01 (NCT01575405) and CHARM-02 (NCT01575418) were Phase 1 studies that evaluated the safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetics of three gel formulations used rectally: a vaginal formulation, a reduced glycerin vaginal formulation, and a rectal-specific formulation.^25,26 Results are available from PLoS One (2015) and AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses (2015).

Rectal douche/enema

Study Identifiers: HPTN 106; NCT06560684

Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Phase: 2
Status: This study has been completed.
Study Purpose: The purpose of this open-label crossover study was to evaluate the safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of a tenofovir rectal douche compared to oral emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (Truvada) tablets.
Study Population: Participants were sexually active men without HIV.⁸

Additional studies evaluating tenofovir rectal douches or enemas have been completed, including the trials described below:

• DREAM-01 (NCT02750540) was a Phase 1 study that evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and acceptability of three formulations of tenofovir rectal douches. Results are available from the J Infect Dis (2024) and Sex Transm Infect (2025).²⁷
• DREAM-02 (NCT04195776) was a Phase 1 study that evaluated the impact of tenofovir rectal douche timing (before or after simulated receptive anal intercourse) on the distribution of an HIV surrogate and douche solution. Results are available from J Infect Dis (2025).¹⁶
• DREAM-03 (NCT04016233) was a Phase 1 study that evaluated the safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of three sequences of tenofovir and non-medicated douches. Results were presented at CROI 2024.¹⁷
• ATN DREAM (NCT04686279) was a Phase 1 study that assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and acceptability of a single dose of a tenofovir rectal douche. Results are available from the J Infect Dis (2025) and AIDS Behav (2025).²⁸
• DREAM-04 was a study evaluating the feasibility of tenofovir douches prepared from powder sachets and results are available from the J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (2025).²⁹

Other rectal dosage forms

Rectal inserts containing tenofovir alafenamide/elvitegravir have also been studied. Two Phase 1 trials (RITE study; NCT06274398 and MTN-039; NCT04047420) have been completed. Results to MTN-039 are available from J Infect Dis (2024) and CROI 2023.^10,19

Tenofovir-based vaginal microbicides

Intravaginal rings

Study Identifiers: Protocol B17-144; NCT03762382

Sponsor: CONRAD
Phase: 2a
Status: This study has been completed.
Study Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of a multipurpose prevention technology IVR delivering both tenofovir and levonorgestrel and a tenofovir only IVR, each compared to a placebo IVR, in women from Kenya. Secondarily, researchers assessed the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of each IVR, as well as IVR tolerability and acceptance.
Study Population: Participants were healthy, non-pregnant women without HIV, assessed to be at lower risk for acquiring HIV, in Western Kenya.⁷
Selected Study Results: Results published in Front Reprod Health (2023) showed that both the tenofovir and levonorgestrel IVR and the tenofovir only IVR used continuously for 90 days were safe. No genital lesions were seen by visual inspection. Assessment of pharmacokinetic data and markers of protection indicate the potential efficacy of the multipurpose tenofovir/levonorgestrel IVR in preventing HIV, HSV-2, and unintended pregnancy.³⁰
Additional Published Material:

• Sci Rep article, 2022: Genital microbiota of women using a 90 day tenofovir or tenofovir and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring in a placebo controlled randomized safety trial in Kenya

Additional Phase 1 studies of IVRs containing tenofovir have been conducted, including the studies described below.

• MTN-038 (NCT03670355) was a safety and pharmacokinetic study of a 90-day IVR containing tenofovir. This study has been completed, and results are published in J Int AIDS Soc (2024).³¹
• CONRAD A13-128 (NCT02235662) was a one-month safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic study of the tenofovir/levonorgestrel IVR and a tenofovir-only IVR. This study has been completed, and results are available from PLoS One (2018).³²
• CONRAD A15-138 (NCT03279120) was a safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic study of a 90-day tenofovir/levonorgestrel IVR. This study has been completed. Results are published in PLoS One (2022) and Front Cell Infect Microbiol (2022).³³
• NCT03255915 is a pilot study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of an IVR delivering both tenofovir DF and emtricitabine (TDF-FTC pod-IVR). This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.³⁴

Other vaginal dosage forms

Other forms of tenofovir-based vaginal microbicides have been investigated in early-phase trials, including vaginal inserts containing tenofovir alafenamide and elvitegravir. Two Phase 1 trials (MATRIX-001; NCT06087913 and NCT03762772) have been completed. Results to the NCT03762772 study are available from Front Cell Infect Microbiol (2023).^9,18

Adverse Events

Adverse Events

MTN-017 (NCT01687218)

In this Phase 2 study, which compared rectally applied reduced glycerin tenofovir 1% gel with oral Truvada, the gel was reported to be safe, with the majority of adverse events (AEs) being mild or moderate in severity. Grade 2 or higher AE rates in the gel groups were similar to the rate in the oral Truvada group. Excluding rectal infections, the most common Grade 2 AE with the daily rectal gel and oral daily Truvada was diarrhea and headache, respectively.²³

Protocol B17-144 (NCT03762382)

In this Phase 2a trial evaluating the continuous use of a tenofovir/levonorgestrel IVR and a tenofovir-only IVR against a placebo IVR for up to 90 days, the most common AEs that occurred were bacterial vaginosis, headache, and respiratory tract infections. The only product-related AEs that occurred were Grade 1 or 2 changes in menstrual bleeding patterns, which were reported in 6 participants using the tenofovir/levonorgestrel IVR and 1 participant using the tenofovir-only IVR. There were no genital lesions observed by visual inspection.³⁰

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions

A Phase 1 pharmacokinetic study evaluated the effect of oral contraceptive (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use in women using tenofovir vaginal gel. Results demonstrated that contraceptive hormone use caused a significant decrease in concentrations of tenofovir in cervicovaginal aspirate. However, investigators determined that tenofovir concentrations still remained at sufficiently high levels to maintain mucosal anti-HIV efficacy.^35,36

References

References

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem compound summary for CID 464205, tenofovir. Accessed October 20, 2026
2. Abdool Karim SS, Baxter C, Abdool Karim Q. Advancing HIV prevention using tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis. Antivir Ther. 2022;27(2):13596535211067588. doi:10.1177/13596535211067589. Accessed October 20, 2026
3. CONRAD. A Phase III, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaginal microbicide 1% tenofovir gel in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in women, and to examine effects of the microbicide on the incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on June 28, 2011. NLM Identifier: NCT01386294. Accessed October 20, 2026
4. CONRAD. A Phase 2 randomized sequence open label expanded safety and acceptability study of oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet and rectally-applied tenofovir reduced-glycerin 1% gel. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on August 27, 2012. NLM Identifier: NCT01687218. Accessed October 20, 2026
5. CONRAD. A Phase I clinical trial assessing the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and disintegration time of vaginal tablets containing tenofovir and/or emtricitabine. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on July 17, 2012. NLM Identifier: NCT01694407. Accessed October 20, 2026
6. CONRAD. A Phase I trial to assess the safety of tenofovir gel and film formulations: FAME 04. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on November 5, 2013. NLM Identifier: NCT01989663. Accessed October 20, 2026
7. CONRAD. Phase IIa, 90-day safety, adherence, and acceptability study of intravaginal rings releasing tenofovir with and without levonorgestrel among women in Western Kenya. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on November 16, 2018. NLM Identifier: NCT03762382. Accessed October 20, 2026
8. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). A Phase 2 crossover study of on-demand PrEP formulations comparing rectal and oral tenofovir-based PrEP evaluating extended safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on August 2, 2024. NLM Identifier: NCT06560684. Accessed October 20, 2026
9. Eastern Virginia Medical School. A Phase I randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and modeled pharmacodynamics of a vaginal insert containing tenofovir alafenamide and elvitegravir. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on September 7, 2023. NLM Identifier: NCT06087913. Accessed October 20, 2026
10. Eastern Virginia Medical School. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of rectally administered tenofovir alafenamide/elvitegravir inserts. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on January 31, 2024. NLM Identifier: NCT06274398. Accessed October 20, 2026
11. Shattock RJ, Rosenberg Z. Microbicides: topical prevention against HIV. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012;2(2):a007385. Accessed October 20, 2026
12. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Microbicides to block transmission of HIV. Accessed October 20, 2026
13. Gengiah TN, Baxter C, Mansoor LE, Kharsany AB, Abdool Karim SS. A drug evaluation of 1% tenofovir gel and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets for the prevention of HIV infection. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2012;21(5):695-715. doi:10.1517/13543784.2012.667072. Accessed October 20, 2026
14. Balzarini J, Van Damme L. Intravaginal and intrarectal microbicides to prevent HIV infection. CMAJ. 2005;172(4):461-464. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041462. Accessed October 20, 2026
15. Verma NA, Lee AC, Herold BC, Keller MJ. Topical prophylaxis for HIV prevention in women: becoming a reality. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2011;8(2):104-113. doi:10.1007/s11904-011-0075-7. Accessed October 20, 2026
16. Johns Hopkins University. A Phase 1 open label study evaluating the distribution of a tenofovir douche in combination with tap water douching and simulated receptive anal intercourse (DREAM-02). In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on December 10, 2019. NLM Identifier: NCT04195776. Accessed October 20, 2026
17. Johns Hopkins University. A Phase I, open-label multiple dose safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and acceptability study of tenofovir rectal douche. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on July 9, 2019. NLM Identifier: NCT04016233. Accessed October 20, 2026
18. CONRAD. A Phase I study to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of a vaginal insert containing tenofovir alafenamide and elvitegravir. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on November 16, 2018. NLM Identifier: NCT03762772. Accessed October 20, 2026
19. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). A Phase 1 open label safety and pharmacokinetic study of rectal administration of a tenofovir alafenamide/elvitegravir insert at two dose levels. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on August 5, 2019. NLM Identifier: NCT04047420. Accessed October 20, 2026
20. Rees H, Delany-Moretlwe SA, Lombard C, et al. FACTS 001 Phase III trial of pericoital tenofovir 1% gel for HIV prevention in women. Abstract presented at: 22nd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); February 23-26, 2015; Seattle, Washington. Abstract 26LB. Accessed October 20, 2026
21. Yang KH, Hendrix C, Bumpus N, et al. A multi-compartment single and multiple dose pharmacokinetic comparison of rectally applied tenofovir 1% gel and oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(10):e106196. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106196. Accessed October 20, 2026
22. Weld ED, McGowan I, Anton P, et al. Tenofovir douche as HIV preexposure prophylaxis for receptive anal intercourse: safety, acceptability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics (DREAM 01). J Infect Dis. 2023;229(4):1131-1140. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiad535. Accessed October 20, 2026
23. Cranston RD, Lama JR, Richardson BA, et al. MTN-017: a rectal Phase 2 extended safety and acceptability study of tenofovir reduced-glycerin 1% gel. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;64(5):614-620. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw832. Accessed October 20, 2026
24. CONRAD. A Phase 1 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled rectal safety and acceptability study of tenofovir 1% gel. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on November 1, 2010. NLM Identifier: NCT01232803. Accessed October 20, 2026
25. Ian McGowan. A randomized, double blind Phase 1 safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetic study comparing three formulations of tenofovir 1% gel administered rectally to HIV-1 seronegative adults. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on February 29, 2012. NLM Identifier: NCT01575405. Accessed October 20, 2026
26. Ian McGowan. An exploratory, double-blinded, randomized, pharmacokinetic and safety study of three rectally-applied tenofovir 1% microbicide gel formulations. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on March 1, 2012. NLM Identifier: NCT01575418. Accessed October 20, 2026
27. Johns Hopkins University. DREAM-01: optimization of a tenofovir enema for HIV prevention. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on April 11, 2016. NLM Identifier: NCT02750540. Accessed October 20, 2026
28. University of Pennsylvania. Safety, PK/PD, acceptability, and desirability of a novel HIV prevention douche among adolescent men (DREAM). In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on December 22, 2020. NLM Identifier: NCT04686279. Accessed October 20, 2026
29. Diniz CP, Abdul-Massih S, Bagia C, et al. Rectal douche as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for receptive anal intercourse: an end user tenofovir powder sachet preparation feasibility study (DREAM-04). J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1999. 2025;99(1):75-80. doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000003608. Accessed October 20, 2026
30. Mugo NR, Mudhune V, Heffron R, et al. Randomized controlled phase IIa clinical trial of safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tenofovir and tenofovir plus levonorgestrel releasing intravaginal rings used by women in Kenya. Front Reprod Health. 2023;5:1118030. doi:10.3389/frph.2023.1118030. Accessed October 20, 2026
31. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). A Phase 1, randomized pharmacokinetic and safety study of a 90 Day intravaginal ring containing tenofovir. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on September 12, 2018. NLM Identifier: NCT03670355. Accessed October 20, 2026
32. CONRAD. Phase I one-month safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and acceptability study of intravaginal rings releasing tenofovir and levonorgestrel or tenofovir alone. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on July 14, 2014. NLM Identifier: NCT02235662. Accessed October 20, 2026
33. CONRAD. Phase I, 90-Day safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic study of intravaginal rings releasing tenofovir and levonorgestrel. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on August 23, 2017. NLM Identifier: NCT03279120. Accessed October 20, 2026
34. Oak Crest Institute of Science. Randomized order, controlled, double blind, crossover early Phase 1 pilot study to assess safety and pharmacokinetics of a tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) releasing IVR over 28 days compared to placebo. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on July 26, 2017. NLM Identifier: NCT03255915. Accessed October 20, 2026
35. CONRAD. Assessing the effect of contraception and the menstrual cycle on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and vaginal safety in tenofovir vaginal gel users. In: ClinicalTrials.gov. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Registered on August 9, 2011. NLM Identifier: NCT01421368. Accessed October 20, 2026
36. Thurman AR, Schwartz JL, Brache V, et al. Effect of hormonal contraception on pharmacokinetics of vaginal tenofovir in healthy women: increased tenofovir diphosphate in injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2019;80(1):79-88. doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000001864. Accessed October 20, 2026

Last Reviewed: October 20, 2026