A NEW ANTI-VIRAL TECHNOLOGY
CarraShield Labs (CSL) has developed and patented a personal lubricant technology based on a long chain polysaccharide molecule derived from special sea algae extract called CarraShield. The growing body of research supports the fact it creates an environment not conducive to human papillomavirus variants.
The most recent and compelling research has been led by a highly credentialed team at the McGill University Medical School. Results from the world's first human clinical trial involving hundreds of women show that the CarraShield gel reduced the likelihood of HPV infection as compared to a placebo lubricant. The HPV prevention characteristics of CarraShield gel have been previously validated by series of laboratory studies at the National Cancer Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Rutgers University Medical School.
A briefing on each research study and links to peer-reviewed journal articles are available by scrolling down this page.
Dr. Mario Tremblay, Chief Science Officer of CarraShield Labs, reviews the history of the medical research and the results of the McGill CATCH study
INFORMATION FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
"While the HPV vaccine protects against at the most nine strains of the virus, potentially, the carrageenan-based lubricant can provide total protection from HPV."
Dr. Eduardo Franco, Principle Investigator, University of McGill Medical School
"Given the issues with vaccines, a topical gel that can reduce HPV infection rates will revolutionize the industry.".
Dr. Mark Einstein, Principle Investigator, Chair of the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
The McGill University Phase 2b study results represent the first time in the history of HPV research that a topical gel in the form of a personal lubricant has been shown to decrease the likelihood of HPV infections in study participants.
The CarraShield technology captures HPV virions in the vaginal tract, before they attacks the cell walls. This protective barrier effect means the CarraShield gel is not a drug, as it has no chemical reaction with the body.
Be sure to clarify with patients that the research studies are not complete, that CarraShield Labs makes no claim of HPV prevention or mitigation, and the FDA has not approved the use of CarraShield technology in the prevention of HPV.
What About Vaccines?
The HPV vaccine is a tremendous step forward in HPV prevention but there remain issues that a protective gel could help solve...
Limited Protection For All HPV Types - Vaccines protects against, at the most, 9 of the over 150 types of HPV.
No Effect if Previously Infected - If the patient has already been exposed to one of the 9 types covered by the vaccine, then the vaccine will not protect her for that type.
Low Uptake - Less than 5% of the world's 2.7 billion women are vaccinated.
Cost Limits Availability - Initial cost and the requirement for 2 refrigerated doses limits use in developing countries.
Fear of Side Effects - Some people refuse the vaccine because of reports of side effects.
Religious or Moral Issues - Some parents refused to vaccinate their children because of sexual connotations.
An Estimated 107 Million Women Worldwide are Vaccinated, Leaving 2.7 Billon Women Still at Risk of Serious HPV Infections
McGILL CLINICAL STUDY ON WOMEN
McGill Medical School Large Scale, Double-blind Clinical Trial on Sexually Active Women
Their published conclusion:
"... (Our) analysis suggests that using CarraShield lubricant gel can reduce the risk of genital HPV infections in women."
McGill University Medical School
The McGill University Medical School study to reduce HPV infections through use of CarraShield technology in a personal lubricant has yielded its first results. Based on data from 280 participants, the women using the CarraShield gel personal lubricant with our patented plant extract had fewer new HPV infections over a 6 to 12 month period as compared to women using a placebo lubricant.
These new results represent the first time in the history of HPV research that a topical gel in the form of a personal lubricant has been shown to have any effect on the number of HPV infections in women in a clinical setting.
The study is called CATCH, an acronym for Carrageenan-gel Against Transmission of Cervical HPV, and involves tracking HPV infections in over four hundred female volunteers for a one year period. The CarraShield gel was the active product for the study and a standard, chemical-based lubricant was used as the placebo.
The McGill University research team is led by Dr. Eduardo Franco, Director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology. Dr. Franco, a renowned expert on the prevention of cervical cancer and HPV-associated diseases, has published over 400 scientific articles.