Active clinical trials for "HIV Infections"

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of combining several anti-HIV drugs in order to decrease plasma viral load (level of HIV in the blood) in HIV-positive patients who have failed nelfinavir (NFV) treatment. In order to determine the ability of a drug regimen to decrease viral load after drug treatment has failed, it is best to test a variety different of drug "cocktails" (drug regimens). The drug cocktails in this study include 2 new nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), efavirenz (an NNRTI, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor), and either 1 or 2 protease inhibitors. It is important to include multiple drugs from different groups in a drug cocktail since combinations containing fewer drugs are likely to fail.

This study examines the long-term effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in combination with anti-HIV drugs, or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The purpose of this study is to see if IL-2 can increase the number of CD4 cells (cells of the immune system which fight infection) in HIV-infected patients who have completed ACTG 328. HAART is often successful in decreasing viral load (level of HIV in the blood), but these drugs have not been able to restore the immune systems of HIV-infected patients. IL-2 is a substance naturally produced by the body's immune cells. In ACTG 328, IL-2 is tested to see if it can increase the number of CD4 cells and "boost" a patient's immune system. This study is a follow-up to ACTG 328 so that patients who are benefiting from IL-2 can continue to take it and patients in the control group who do not receive IL-2 can start taking it.

The purpose of this study is to find out whether taking protease inhibitors (anti-HIV drugs) together with lipid-lowering drugs (drugs which lower the amount of fat in the blood) has an effect on the level of drugs found in the blood compared to when these drugs are taken separately. The three protease inhibitors given in this study are ritonavir, saquinavir, and nelfinavir. The lipid-lowering drugs given are pravastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin. Anti-HIV drug therapy using protease inhibitors has become very common treatment for HIV-positive patients. Recently, however, serious side effects involving how the body uses fat have been reported in people taking protease inhibitors. Examples of these side effects are redistribution of body fat and development of diabetes. People taking protease inhibitors have been found to have higher levels of fat in their blood than is normal, which can cause heart problems. It is hoped that giving lipid-lowering drugs can help prevent serious heart problems. First, however, it is important to see what happens when protease inhibitors and lipid-lowering drugs are given together.

To determine whether the rate of HIV transmission from mother to infant can be reduced by continuous oral zidovudine (AZT) treatment to HIV infected pregnant women, intravenous AZT during childbirth, and oral AZT treatment of the newborn infant from birth to six weeks of age. The study is also designed to evaluate the safety of AZT for both the pregnant woman and the newborn infant. No method exists to prevent transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her newborn infant. Giving an antiviral agent (such as AZT) to the mother and to the newborn could in theory decrease the risk of infection to the newborn by reducing the exposure of the fetus to maternal virus, or by preventive treatment of the fetus before exposure.

To assess the safety and tolerance of multiple oral doses of Nevirapine (BI-RG-587). To generate data on the pharmacokinetics and dose proportionality of Nevirapine with multiple dosing. To characterize the pattern of virological activity in vivo. Improvement in virological end points will be examined for association with dose and absorption. To determine whether development of resistance is reflected in return of virological activity and, if so, when markers reflect this resistance. To determine if improvements of immunological endpoints are detectable in the number of patients studied. A compound free of the toxic effects of nucleoside chain terminators such as zidovudine (AZT) may have an advantage over currently available treatments for HIV infection. Such a compound has further advantages if it is active against AZT-resistant isolates. Nevirapine (BI-RG-587) has shown in vitro inhibitory activity against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). The molecular mechanism of the RT inhibitory effect is hypothesized to be non-competitive inhibition due to its binding to an RT site distinct from those for the RNA template primer, the deoxynucleotide triphosphate or the RNase H catalytic site.

PRIMARY: To determine the maximum tolerated dose of interferon-alfa (IFN-A) alone and in combination with zidovudine (AZT); to assess the safety and tolerance of IFN-A alone and in combination with AZT. SECONDARY: To evaluate the effect of combination IFN-A and AZT on immunologic and virologic parameters; to determine whether the pharmacokinetic parameters of AZT are modified by the subcutaneous administration of IFN-A. AZT is effective in suppressing the progression of HIV infection in patients without symptoms or with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC). However, use of AZT is limited by its frequent toxicity, which sometimes relates to the amount of drug given. Thus, a combination treatment of two drugs that work together may provide more effective and safer treatment. IFN-A is a drug that has antiviral effects and may work well with AZT.

To determine if intravenous (IV) and oral zidovudine (AZT) can be safely given to children aged 1 day to 3 months who were born to mothers with an HIV infection. Also to determine the correct dose of AZT for young children. Of a total of 908 pediatric AIDS cases, 78 percent have acquired HIV infection from a mother with HIV infection or at high risk for acquisition of HIV, and the number of cases in children is expected to increase over the next several years. AZT therapy may be effective in altering the course of the disease and decreasing the high mortality in these children. It is also possible that early intervention with AZT may prevent the establishment of HIV contracted before, during, or just after birth.

To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerance, and other clinical and immunologic effects of zidovudine (AZT) plus zalcitabine (dideoxycytidine; ddC), AZT plus didanosine (ddI), and AZT alternating monthly with ddI as measured by differences in survival among HIV-infected persons who have received 6 or more months of nucleoside monotherapy and have a CD4 count greater than or equal to 50 cells/mm3. Combining two nucleoside drugs has the theoretical advantage of optimal protection against the evolution of resistant strains of HIV. However, one major problem with combination nucleoside therapy in patients with advanced disease is the increased toxicity resulting from such therapy. One approach to minimize toxicity while perhaps retaining some of the benefits of combination therapy is to alternate the two drugs.

PRIMARY: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of three treatment regimens: saquinavir mesylate (Ro 31-8959) plus zidovudine (AZT) vs. AZT plus zalcitabine (dideoxycytidine; ddC) vs. Ro 31-8959 plus AZT plus ddC. SECONDARY: To investigate the pharmacokinetics and effects on various clinical parameters of the three regimens.

To determine the effects of zidovudine (AZT) alone and in combination with didanosine (ddI) on viral load in the lymphoid tissue and blood of antiretroviral-naive, HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts greater than or equal to 550 cells/mm3. Recent studies have shown that during the asymptomatic phase (clinical latency) of HIV infection, there is an extraordinarily large number of infected CD4+ lymphocytes and macrophages throughout the lymphoid system, both in latent and productive states. These findings support the belief that early intervention therapy with reverse transcriptase inhibitors could prolong the clinical latency period.