Clinical Research Directory

Cannabis Use, Cognition, and the Endocannabinoid System in HIV

Understanding how co-morbidities in persons with HIV (PWH) such as substance use affect risk-taking, decision-making, and other cognitive behaviors is important given implications for everyday functioning and transmission risk. The high prevalence of cannabis use in PWH, medicinally and recreationally, may indicate disease severity, impart therapeutic benefits, or adverse consequences. In fact, cannabis is recommended to those with HIV to alleviate nausea, improve appetite, relieve pain, and lift mood. To-date, the consequences of cannabis use in PWH remain unclear as do potential interactions with HIV treatments. In healthy participants, heavy cannabis use is associated with cognitive deficits e.g., risky decision-making, response disinhibition and inattention, but pro-cognitive effects in PWH may exist at mild use levels due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-excitotoxic properties. Furthermore, little has been done to determine the effects of cannabis use on the endocannabinoid (EC) system in general or in PWH. This study will determine the effects of the two primary cannabis constituents (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol \[THC\], cannabidiol \[CBD\]) vs. placebo on risky decision-making, response inhibition, reward learning, temporal perception, and motivation, plus EC and homovanillic acid (HVA; a surrogate for dopamine activity) levels in HIV+ and HIV- subjects. Participants with infrequent cannabis use will undergo baseline cognitive testing and biomarker assays with antiretrovirals (ART) use quantified. They will be randomized to a 5-day course of either THC, CBD, or placebo and return for follow-up testing and re-assaying of ECs and HVA levels.

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Antiviral Activity of Two Human Monoclonal Antibodies (VRC07-523LS and PGT121.414.LS) During Analytic Treatment Interruption in Participants Living With HIV Who Initiated ART During Acute/Early HIV-1 Infection

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of combination broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), to induce HIV-1 control during analytic treatment interruption (ATI).

B/F/TAF to DTG/3TC Switch Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of switch to dolutegravir and lamivudine (DTG/3TC) single tablet regimen from bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in persons living with HIV aged 60 years old or more. METHODS: This is a phase 3b, multi-center, open-label, single-arm clinical trial over 96 weeks. The study will take place at two sites in Kenya: Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Study visits will take place at screening, baseline, and weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96 (with a 6-week extension as required for confirming HIV-1 RNA levels). A target of 240 participants from the ongoing B/F/TAF Elderly Switch Study will be enrolled. Eligible participants will be switched from B/F/TAF to DTG/3TC at enrollment and followed up for 96 weeks. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 copies/mL (Snapshot algorithm) at Week 48. Analysis of the primary endpoint will be performed for the intention to treat - exposed (ITT-E) population using the FDA snapshot method.

Outcomes of the PLHIV With Suboptimal Viral Suppression to Injectable Long-acting Antiretrovirals

This study aims to determine whether people living with HIV (PLHIV) with suboptimal medical adherence can achieve better viral suppression with long-acting antiretrovirals (LA) compared to all-oral antiretrovirals.

IGHID 12230 - An Implementation Trial of an Experiential Brief Alcohol Intervention for HIV Prevention

This study is a hybrid type 3, cluster randomized implementation trial to examine effective strategies to scale up the Brief Alcohol Intervention (BAI) in ART clinics in Vietnam. One arm will receive only facilitation for BAI implementation. Facilitation is a flexible strategy that helps clinics to address common barriers, such as counselor skills, competing priorities, and resource deficits. In the other arm, in addition to facilitation, clinic staff, irrespective of their own alcohol use, will be offered the BAI themselves as experiential learning (EBAI) to address their own alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors. Clinic staff responsible for delivering the BAI to patients will also be offered 3 consolidation activities to integrate their own experiences with their delivery of the BAI.

Study to Compare Bictegravir/Lenacapavir Versus Current Therapy in People With HIV-1 Who Are Successfully Treated With a Complicated Regimen (ARTISTRY-1)

The goal of this clinical study is to learn more about the effects of switching to the study drugs, bictegravir (BIC) plus lenacapavir (LEN), versus current therapy (Phase 2) and BIC/LEN fixed-dose combination (FDC) versus current therapy (Phase 3) in people living with HIV (PWH).

Administration of High Doses of Antiretroviral Drugs to Eliminate the Latent HIV-1 Reservoir

The HIV epidemic represents one of the greatest health challenges worldwide, with important social and economic implications for public health. Although combination antiretroviral therapy (TAR) is effective in controlling infection and delaying disease onset, as well as improving the quality of life of infected persons, the relevant medical needs caused by HIV-1 infection are not yet fully met by TAR. The main obstacle to curing HIV is the establishment and maintenance of the viral reservoir. Therefore, we believe that this clinical trial will provide knowledge, for the first time, of the increase of antiretroviral drug levels in lymphatic tissue achieved by simultaneous administration of antiretroviral drugs at higher than usual doses, and their effect on persistent viral replication in intestinal lymphatic tissue and, as a consequence, on the latent cellular reservoir of HIV.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for HIV+ Hazardous Drinkers

Alcohol consumption is a critical factor in HIV treatment that significantly contributes to poor treatment-related outcomes. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of alcohol interventions for people with HIV (PWH) have had limited success, perhaps due to an increasingly recognized co-morbitity of co-occurring hazardous alcohol use and other mental health-related problems among PWH. This has necessitated a shift in the literature towards trans-diagnostic approaches that target core psychological processes that underlie multiple mental health-related problems. One trans-diagnostic mechanism that is relevant to alcohol and other substance use is experiential avoidance (EA)- i.e., repeated, and maladaptive, use of substances and/or other behaviors to escape or avoid unwanted thoughts, feelings, and/or urges. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) targets EA and is an empirically supported treatment for multiple psychological and behavioral health-related outcomes; however there have not been any full-scale RCTs of ACT for alcohol use among any population, including PWH. The investigators recently adapted a telephone-delivered ACT intervention originally developed for smoking cessation, into an intervention for PWH who drink at unhealthy levels (NIH/NIAAA; R34AA026246). This six-session, telephone-delivered ACT intervention for alcohol use showed high feasibility and acceptability in a pilot RCT conducted by our team. The overall objective of this application is therefore to determine if ACT can significantly reduce alcohol use and comorbid symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among adult PWH who drink at unhealthy levels. The specific aims are: To determine the relative efficacy of ACT, compared to BI, for reducing alcohol use among PWH (Aim 1) and to determine if ACT has an effect on trans-diagnostic processes that in turn affect alcohol use and other psychological and functional outcomes (Aim 2). The investigators will accomplish these aims by: conducting a remote, RCT in which the investigators randomly assign 300 PWH who drink at unhealthy levels to either the ACT intervention the investigators developed (n = 150), or a BI intervention (n = 150) previously shown to reduce alcohol use among PWH. The investigators will assess alcohol-related outcomes-via self-report and a biomarker- at baseline, post-treatment (7 weeks post-baseline), and again 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-randomization. The investigators will also measure EA to determine if it mediates treatment effects for alcohol use and other psychological and functional outcomes, measured at all timepoints.

A Study to Provide Continued Access to Study Drug to Children and Adolescents Who Have Completed Clinical Studies Involving Gilead HIV Treatments

The goal of this clinical study is to provide continued access to the study drug(s) to children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) who completed their participation in an applicable parent study and to monitor for adverse events. The primary objectives of this study are as follows: * To provide continued access to the study drug received in the parent protocol or switch to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir (B/F/TAF) for participants who completed a Gilead parent study evaluating drugs for HIV treatment. * To evaluate the safety of the study drug(s) in participants with HIV-1.

Immunotherapy With Baricitinib and Sirolimus, Alone and in Combination, for the Control of HIV-1 Replication After Antiretroviral Treatment Interruption

Natural HIV controllers (HICs) and post-treatment controllers (PTCs) are rare examples of people living with HIV (PLWH) who achieve control of HIV replication without the need for antiretroviral therapy (ART). Therapeutic strategies that can induce such a phenotype are therefore a key goal in the quest for a remission of HIV infection. JAK1/JAK2 and mTORC1 are key biological pathways involved in the regulation of HIV-1 transcription and replication, as well as the functional capacities of immune effectors, primarily CD8 T cells (exhaustion status and immunometabolic properties), but also NK cells. Immunotherapeutic interventions using a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor and an mTORC1 inhibitor, alone or in combination to achieve an additive or synergistic effect, are therefore promising candidates to induce a PTC-like phenotype. The use of combined approaches of immunotherapies with different and potentially complementary effects may increase the likelihood of achieving viral control. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy and safety of three experimental immunotherapeutic interventions (i.e., baricitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, alone; sirolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor, alone; or their combination) on viral control following an analytic treatment interruption (ATI) of antiretroviral drugs in PLWH who had initiated ART during primary HIV-1 infection. This randomized clinical trial will use an innovative multi-arm multi-stage adaptive design.

ANRS 12372 MODERATO Study

MODERATO is a phase III, open-label, randomized, multicenter, non-inferiority trial conducted in West and Central Africa (Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso). HIV-1 infected adults receiving first line ART with TDF+XTC+EFV or DTG+XTC+TDF virologically suppressed will be recruited and followed during 100 weeks. The objective is to assess the non-inferiority of a strategy consisting of switching to a dual maintenance therapy (DTG+3TC or ATV/r+3TC), comparing to WHO standard first line regimen (TDF+3TC+EFV or DTG+3TC+TDF), in terms of virological success at 96 weeks

A Study of GS-3242 in Combination With Lenacapavir Versus Biktarvy in Virologically Suppressed People With HIV-1

The study will have two parts: Part A and Part B. In Part A, the goal of the study is to compare the effectiveness of switching to the study drugs GS-3242 plus Lenacapavir (LEN) versus continuing Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF)), in virologically suppressed people with HIV-1 (PWH) in treatment Group 1, 2 and 3 at Week 35. In Part B the goal of the study is to compare the effectiveness of switching to the study drugs, GS-3242 and LEN versus continuing B/F/TAF in Groups 4 and 3 at Week 26. The primary objective of part A is to evaluate the efficacy of switching to intramuscular (IM) GS-3242 plus IM LEN versus continuing on B/F/TAF PWH who are virologically suppressed in treatment Groups 1, 2, and 3 at Week 35 and Part B is to evaluate the efficacy of switching to IM GS-3242 plus IM LEN versus continuing on B/F/TAF in PWH who are virologically suppressed in Treatment Groups 4 and 3 at Week 26.

Study of an Injectable Regimen of GS-3242 With Lenacapavir Compared to Biktarvy in People New to HIV-1 Treatment

The study will have two portions: Phase 2 and Phase 3. Phase 2 will further have 2 parts: Part A and Part B. The goal of Phase 2, Part A is to assess the effectiveness of study drugs GS-3242 plus Lenacapavir (LEN) versus Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF)), in people with HIV-1 (PWH) who are new to treatment. This will be done in Treatment Groups 1, 2 and 3 at Week 35. The goal of Phase 2, Part B is to compare the effectiveness of study drugs, GS-3242 and LEN versus B/F/TAF in Groups 4 and 3 at Week 26. The goal of Phase 3 is to assess the long-term effectiveness of study drug GS-3242 and LEN versus B/F/TAF, at Week 52. The primary objectives of this study are: Phase 2, Part A: To evaluate the efficacy of intramuscular (IM) GS-3242 plus IM LEN versus B/F/TAF in treatment-naive people with HIV-1 (PWH) in Treatment Groups 1, 2, and 3 at Week 35. Phase 2, Part B: To evaluate the efficacy of IM GS-3242 plus IM LEN versus B/F/TAF in treatment-naive PWH in Treatment Groups 4 and 3 at Week 26. Phase 3: To evaluate the efficacy of IM GS-3242 plus IM LEN versus B/F/TAF in treatment-naive PWH at Week 52.

Improving HIV-1 Control in Africa With Long Acting Antiretrovirals

IMPALA is a randomized, open-label, multicenter, interventional study of 540 virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected adults who have a history of sub-optimal adherence to daily oral ART and/or engagement in HIV care. The study will seek to demonstrate non-inferior antiviral effectiveness of the 2-monthly long-acting injectable combination of cabotegravir/rilpivirine as compared to continuation of first line oral antiretroviral therapy.

Ending the Epidemic Interventions in the Dental Setting - UH3

The purpose of this study is to use information technology (IT) to support the efficient delivery of HIV prevention and care best practices in the dental care setting.

Addressing Barriers to Anti-hypertensive Medication Adherence Among PLWH Who Have Achieved Viral Suppression

Among those with hypertension, persons living with HIV (PWH) have a 50% higher risk of incident myocardial infarction compared to the general population, and they often fail to meet evidence-based treatment goals for hypertension. An important contributing factor for insufficient blood pressure control is non-adherence to antihypertensive medications. Research on medication adherence for PWH has largely focused on antiretroviral therapy adherence with limited focus on adherence to other non-AIDS condition medications. With a large proportion of PWH in the U.S. achieving viral suppression, providers may now have an opportunity to focus on the management of non-AIDS conditions like hypertension. However, because PWH who have achieved suppression have reduced clinic encounters (once or twice a year) there is potential loss of opportunity to effectively monitor and intensify hypertension treatment as needed an important opportunity to focus on preventing cardiovascular disease. CVD and other non-AIDS comorbidities. The study's overarching goal is to improve the hypertension outcomes for PWH on suppressive ART to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. In this study, we will identify and evaluate healthcare and patient-level factors that must be addressed in an intervention to increase hypertension medication adherence for PWH who have achieved viral suppression. We will use these factors to tailor an intervention and assess the feasibility and acceptability at the Duke ID clinic.

Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Lenacapavir (GS-6207) in Combination With an Optimized Background Regimen (OBR) in Heavily Treatment Experienced Participants Living With HIV-1 Infection With Multidrug Resistance

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the antiviral activity of lenacapavir (formerly GS-6207) administered as an add-on to a failing regimen for 14 days (functional monotherapy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (PWH) with multi-drug resistance (MDR).

Study of Bictegravir/Lenacapavir in Children and Adolescents With HIV-1

The goal of this clinical study is to learn about the safety and tolerability of bictegravir (BIC)/lenacapavir (LEN) and to learn how the study drug interacts with the body in virologically suppressed (VS) children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) on a stable and complex antiretroviral (ARV) regimen. The study will also assess the safe loading dose of LEN and pharmacokinetics (PK) of BIC/LEN. The primary objectives of this study are: * To evaluate the steady-state PK of BIC and LEN and confirm the dose of the LEN loading dose and BIC/LEN FDC in VS children and adolescents with HIV-1. * To evaluate the safety and tolerability of BIC/LEN through Week 24 in VS children and adolescents with HIV-1.

Efficacy and Safety of Doravirine in the Rapid Initiation

Protocol title: "Efficacy and safety of doravirine in the rapid initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-1positive patients without prior treatment."

Immuno-virological Evaluation of Persons Living With HIV (PLWH)

This is a dual arm (arm 1 and arm 2) multi-centric non-randomized (prospective) study. Two new multicentric cohorts will be set up in 4 Belgian HIV reference centers (UZ Gent, UZ Brussel, University Hospital Liege and St. Pierre Hospital Brussels): cohort 1 will comprise PLWH in whom ART was initiated during acute HIV infection minimum 3 years ago but no more than 10 years ago (short-term ART cohort); cohort 2 will comprise PLWH on ART since \>20 years (long-term ART cohort). Participants will be included based on suppressed viremia and uninterrupted ART since initiation. Participants will undergo one blood sampling and one leukapheresis. In and exclusion criteria are described below.

2DR Versus 3DR in a Prospective Randomized Controlled Switch Trial

The aim of this study is to monitor virological and immunological markers in participants who are switching from a classic triple drug regimen (3DR) to dual therapy (2DR). We aim to monitor whether this has an influence on different parameters such as severity of HIV disease (evaluated by viral load and viral reservoir size), presence of non-AIDS related health complications, impact the phenotype and function of the immune system. By conducting this study we want to assess whether switching from 3DR to 2DR implies an increased risk for 'subclinical' failure. We especially want to make sure that this switch does not increase the HIV reservoir, does not increase inflammation or immune exhaustion in patients living with HIV and that it can be considered as a safe long term alternative for the classic 3DR. The primary objective is to demonstrate non inferiority at W48 of the 2DR DTG/3TC (Dovato) regimen compared to BIC/TAF/FTC (Biktarvy) in terms of the amount of intact replication competent HIV sequences with a non-inferiority margin of 12% quantified by the fraction intact HIV viral sequences quantified by an intact proviral DNA assay, present in blood CD4 cells.

Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in Treatment-Naïve Pregnant Women

Protocol Number: FH-94 Study Objetives: Primary: * To evaluate the virological response to Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in naive pregnant women with HIV who are starting antiretroviral therapy and vertical transmission in exposed neonates. Secondary: * To evaluate the incidence of maternal adverse events. * To evaluate perinatal outcomes at delivery. * To evaluate maximum virological suppression at delivery. * To evaluate the incidence of changes in body weight exceeding what is expected for gestation. * To evaluate the immune response based on changes in CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8 ratio values during pregnancy. * Assess baseline resistance and the development of resistance to virological failure to integrase inhibitors and INTRs during treatment with DTG+3TC or DTG+TDF/XTC or DTG+TAF/FTC. * To evaluate the incidence of HIV infection in children that breastfeed. * To evaluate safety outcomes and virological response of DTG+3TC compared to DTG+TDF/XTC or DTG+TAF/FTC. Exploratory: * To explore the non-inferiority of DTG+3TC therapy compared to DTG+TDF/XTC or DTG+TAF/FTC treatment. * To evaluate the frequency of antiretroviral therapy withdrawal or modification before delivery.

Administration of Venetoclax to Promote Apoptosis of HIV-infected Cells and Reduce the Size of the HIV Reservoir Among People Living With HIV on ART

In summary, there is a compelling rationale for investigating venetoclax as an intervention to sensitise virus-expressing cells to apoptosis and thereby reduce the size of the latent HIV reservoir. While this concept may ultimately need to be tested in the setting of concomitant latency reversal, the investigators propose to initially establish the safety of venetoclax in PLWH on ART. The investigators will use this study to also investigate effects of venetoclax monotherapy on proapoptotic pathways, immune effector function and HIV persistence in PLWH on ART and through these studies establish the rationale for subsequent studies testing venetoclax in combination with an LRA.

Nine-valent HPV Vaccine to Prevent Persistent Oral HPV Infection in Men Living With HIV

This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III interventional trial of the nine-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) to prevent persistent oral HPV infection in adult men living with HIV.