Recruiting

Phase 2

Ketotifen FumarateTopical Ketotifen 0.25% for Secondary Vestibulodynia

Sponsor:

Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders

Code:

NCT07257029

Conditions

Provoked Vestibulodynia

Secondary Provoked Vestibulodynia

Vulvodynia

Vulvary Pain Disorders

Neuroproliferative Vestibulodynia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Ketotifen Fumarate 0.25% Cream

Placebo (Vehicle Cream)

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of topical ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream in adult women with secondary provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Secondary PVD is a chronic vulvar pain condition characterized by burning or sharp pain with vaginal penetration (e.g., intercourse, tampon use) and touch of the vulvar vestibule, often following recurrent infections or topical irritant exposures. Preclinical studies suggest that ketotifen, a mast-cell stabilizer and histamine H1 antagonist, may reduce neuroinflammation and abnormal nerve growth in the vulvar vestibule, offering a mechanism-based, non-surgical treatment option.

Approximately 54 women aged 18 years and older who meet ISSVD/ISSWSH/IPPS criteria for secondary PVD without vulvovaginal atrophy will be enrolled. After a 1-week screening period, all participants will complete a 2-week single-blind placebo run-in; those with a strong placebo response or intolerance to vehicle cream will not be randomized. Eligible participants will then be randomized 1:1 to receive ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream or matching placebo cream applied twice daily to the vulvar vestibule for 12 weeks.

The primary outcome is change from baseline to Week 15 in pain intensity with the baseline dilator maximum tested size (DMTS), measured on an 11-point numeric rating scale. Secondary outcomes include changes in Vulvodynia Experience Questionnaire (VEQ) scores, vestibular pain thresholds measured by Wagner algometry, and participant-reported meaningful benefit at the end of treatment. Safety assessments will include adverse events, application-site reactions, physical examinations, vital signs, and pregnancy testing. This study will provide the first controlled clinical data on topical ketotifen for secondary PVD and inform the feasibility of larger registration trials.

Conditions

Provoked Vestibulodynia

Secondary Provoked Vestibulodynia

Vulvodynia

Vulvary Pain Disorders

Neuroproliferative Vestibulodynia

Study ID

NCT07257029

Start date

Jan 2, 2026

Status verified date

Nov, 2025

Completion date

Jan 1, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 1, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

Female participants ≥18 years of age
Able to provide signed and dated informed consent
Able to read, write, understand, and complete English-language study-related forms and communicate in English
Has a stable address and is available for the duration of the study
In good general health based on medical history
Willing to comply with all study procedures
Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 kg/m² and 32.0 kg/m² (inclusive)
Meets ISSVD/ISSWSH/IPPS criteria for secondary provoked vestibulodynia, including: 6 continuous months of vulvar symptoms (insertional dyspareunia, pain with tampon insertion, or pain to touch); moderate to severe vestibular tenderness to light touch on physical exam
No evidence of vulvovaginal atrophy
If atrophy is present, must complete ≥12 weeks of topical hormone therapy and be re-screened to confirm resolution before enrollment
Negative vaginal culture for infection at randomization (participants with positive cultures at screening may be treated and retested)

Exclusion Criteria:

Pregnancy or lactation
Unable to tolerate the smallest dilator during baseline dilator assessment
Active vaginal infection (Candida, BV, trichomonas, HSV)
May re-screen after treatment and documented cure
Active cutaneous disease of the vestibule
Current presentation of other painful vulvar conditions, including:

Pudendal neuralgia Lichen sclerosus Lichen planus Plasma cell vulvitis Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia Sjögren's disease Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis

Hypoestrogenic states (e.g., vulvar atrophy due to menopause or medications)
History of significant vestibular or vaginal surgery, including:

Vestibulectomy Perineoplasty Bladder neck suspension Anterior/posterior colporrhaphy Pudendal nerve neurolysis Ablative or fractional laser procedures

Initiation or planned change in any of the following within 30 days before screening or during the study:

Gabapentinoids Tricyclic antidepressants SSRIs or SNRIs Hormone replacement therapy Systemic or local muscle relaxants (benzodiazepines, baclofen, botulinum toxin, cyclobenzaprine, CBD suppositories) Pelvic floor physical therapy

Use of another investigational drug or intervention within the past 3 months
Positive vaginal culture during the study requiring two or more treatments (per protocol, second infection leads to termination)
Any condition or factor that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with study participation or safety

Study Design

Enrollment

54 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Ketotifen Fumarate 0.25% Cream

Participants receive topical ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream applied as a thin layer to the vulvar vestibule twice daily (approximately every 8-12 hours) for 12 weeks following completion of the 2-week placebo run-in period. The ketotifen cream is supplied in pre-weighed tubes and used for the full randomized treatment phase.

placebo comparator: Placebo (Vehicle Cream)

Participants receive the matching vehicle cream applied as a thin layer to the vulvar vestibule twice daily (approximately every 8-12 hours) for 12 weeks following completion of the 2-week placebo run-in period. The placebo cream is identical in appearance and packaging to the active study cream and is supplied in pre-weighed tubes for the full randomized treatment phase.

Interventions

Ketotifen Fumarate 0.25% Cream

Participants apply topical ketotifen fumarate 0.25% cream as a thin layer to the vulvar vestibule twice daily (approximately every 8-12 hours) for 12 weeks after completing the 2-week placebo run-in period. The cream is provided in pre-weighed tubes and used throughout the randomized treatment phase.

Placebo (Vehicle Cream)

Participants apply the matching vehicle cream as a thin layer to the vulvar vestibule twice daily (approximately every 8-12 hours) for 12 weeks following completion of the 2-week placebo run-in period. The placebo cream is identical in appearance and packaging to the ketotifen cream and is provided in pre-weighed tubes for use throughout the randomized treatment phase.

Primary outcome measure

Change in Dilator-Induced Pain at the Baseline Dilator Maximum Tested Size (DMTS) [ Time Frame: Baseline to Week 15 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Andrew T Goldstein, MD

410-279-0209 obstetrics@yahoo.com

Kate L Tolleson, MS

903-424-1410 kate@vulvodynia.com

Locations

The Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders - Washington, DC

Recruiting

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States, 20037

Contacts

Chailee Moss, MD

202-887-0568 chaileemossmd@vulvodynia.com

The Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders

Recruiting

Tampa, Florida, United States, 33609

Contacts

Jill Krapf, MD

813-358-7634 jillkrapf@gmail.com

The Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders - New York

Recruiting

New York, New York, United States, 10036

Contacts

Andrew T Goldstein, MD

410-279-0209 obstetrics@yahoo.com

More Information

Sponsor

Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders

Last update posted

Mar 18, 2026

Last verified

Nov, 2025

Keywords

ketotifen fumarate
vulvodynia
provoked vestibulodynia
secondary vestibulodynia
vulvar pain
insertional dyspareunia
mast cell stabilizer
neuroproliferative pain
topical antihistamine
vulvar vestibule
non-hormonal treatment
vestibular tenderness
female sexual pain
vestibulodynia clinical trial
vulvar pain disorder
randomized controlled trial
algometer
dilator test
vulvodynia experience questionnaire (VEQ)

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders on 2026-03-18.