Testing increasing doses of a turmeric compound for anal precancerous lesions

This is a Phase 1 safety trial of curcumin, a natural compound from turmeric, given as a daily insertion into the anal canal. The trial is designed to find the safest dose and understand how well the medication is tolerated in people with HIV who have precancerous anal lesions. Researchers hope this treatment could one day offer an alternative to surgery or topical creams for managing these lesions.

Right now, people with HIV who develop precancerous anal lesions have limited options—mostly surgery or topical treatments that can cause pain, scarring, or complications. This medication has shown promise in test tubes and oral studies, but no one has tried delivering it directly into the anal canal in humans yet. This trial aims to fill that gap and explore whether this approach could be safer and more effective.