Clinical and microbial evaluation of a histatin-containing mouthrinse in humans with experimental gingivitis: a phase-2 multi-center study.

OBJECTIVE

P-113, a 12 amino acid histatin-based peptide, was evaluated in a mouthrinse formulation for safety and efficacy in a phase 2 multi-center clinical study.

METHOD

294 healthy subjects abstained from oral hygiene procedures and self-administered either 0.01% P-113, 0.03% P-113 or placebo mouthrinse formulations twice daily over a 4-week treatment period. During this time, the safety, anti-gingivitis, and anti-plaque effects of P-113 were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in the change from baseline to Day 22 in bleeding on probing in the 0.01% P-113 treatment group of the intent to treat population (p=0.049). Non-significant trends in the reduction of the other parameters were observed in this population (p> or =0.159). A sub-group of subjects which developed significant levels of disease within the four-week timeframe of the study was identified based on baseline gingival index scores > or =0.75. Significant findings were observed for bleeding on probing, gingival index and plaque index within this population (p<0.05). There were no treatment-related adverse events, and there were no adverse shifts in supragingival microflora during the study. Significant amounts of the peptide were retained in the oral cavity following rinsing.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that P-113 mouthrinse is safe and reduces the development of gingival bleeding, gingivitis and plaque in the human experimental gingivitis model.