Active clinical trials for "HIV Infections"

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of various combinations of anti-HIV drugs in HIV-positive men and women. Patients receive specific combinations of 3 or 4 of the following 6 drugs: didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T) efavirenz (EFV), nelfinavir (NFV), lamivudine (3TC), or zidovudine (ZDV). Anti-HIV therapy is effective in preventing the spread of HIV in the body. However, patients often experience unpleasant side effects and have difficulties following the dosing schedule. This study looks for combinations of anti-HIV drugs ("cocktails") which will be the most effective with the fewest problems.

To determine if treatment with zidovudine (AZT) will delay or prevent the onset of AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC) in individuals infected with HIV but who do not have symptoms of AIDS or ARC. Also, to compare the dose of AZT found to be useful in AIDS and severe ARC with a lower dose to see if side effects can be reduced. Results from several studies show that a high percentage of people infected with HIV will eventually develop AIDS or ARC unless an effective treatment is found. Because AZT is known to prolong survival in patients with AIDS or severe ARC and has acceptable toxicity in advanced disease, it is reasonable to try it in less advanced cases.

Primary: To evaluate the rate of development of resistance to nevirapine in HIV-1 infected individuals. To evaluate safety of nevirapine in HIV-1 infected individuals with CD4 counts greater than or equal to 500 cells/mm3. Secondary: To evaluate the effect of nevirapine on surrogate markers. The anti-HIV agent nevirapine is associated with rapid emergence of resistance when administered alone or in combination with zidovudine to HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts <= 400 cells/mm3. In persons with less advanced HIV disease and less viral burden, the emergence of resistance may be delayed, thus permitting evaluation for beneficial effect in a population where there is currently no established therapy.

Primary: To determine the efficacy of early treatment with zidovudine (AZT) in HIV-infected asymptomatic infants. To determine the safety and tolerance of AZT in this patient population. Secondary: To compare the virologic and immunologic parameters between the treatment groups. To determine the efficacy of AZT as an early treatment to prevent development of CD4+ cell depletion in HIV-infected asymptomatic infants. AZT is currently indicated for primary treatment in children with HIV-associated signs and symptoms and for those with significant immunodeficiency. This study will attempt to determine whether early treatment with AZT prevents the development of symptoms in HIV-infected infants who are asymptomatic.

To determine the safety, toxicity, pharmacokinetic profile, and antiretroviral activity of atevirdine mesylate ( U-87201E ) in HIV-infected patients. Per 06/04/93 amendment, to also evaluate the interactive effects of didanosine ( ddI ) or zalcitabine ( dideoxycytidine; ddC ) with zidovudine ( AZT ) on the pharmacokinetics of U-87201E and to assess the effects of the triple combination therapies on immunologic and virologic parameters. Since the use of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as U-87201E has been associated with the rapid development of resistant HIV isolates, an initial evaluation of this drug in patients was made in combination with AZT. Because of the inability to detect resistance after 6 weeks of combined AZT/U-87201E therapy, this protocol will initially investigate U-87201E administered alone and then investigate the effect of this drug with AZT and ddI or ddC.

To determine the safety and efficacy of two doses of interferon alfa-2a ( IFN alfa-2a ) in combination with zidovudine ( AZT )/zalcitabine ( ddC ) versus AZT/ddC only in patients with HIV infection and CD4 count < 400 cells/mm3. AZT and ddC inhibit HIV by acting as reverse transcriptase chain terminators, while IFN alfa-2a inhibits translation of viral proteins. Combining agents that act at different sites of viral replication may improve HIV inhibition and produce more effective and sustained anti-HIV effects.

To study the anti-HIV activity of the various doses of Ro 24-7429 monotherapy based on virologic and immunologic endpoints. To study the safety and tolerance of Ro 24-7429. To explore relationships between exposure to Ro 24-7429 and its metabolites and antiviral activity and drug toxicity. To determine a safe, tolerable, and active dose regimen of Ro 24-7429, and to make preliminary observations of Ro 24-7429 in combination with another antiretroviral nucleoside. The HIV genome contains a number of genes that regulate viral replication. Control of the activity of these genes and their encoded proteins represents a potential target for development of new antiretroviral drugs. The tat (transactivator of transcription of HIV) antagonist Ro 24-7429 is the first compound for clinical testing that utilizes this approach for therapy of HIV infection.

To assess the safety and toxicity of zidovudine (AZT)/didanosine (ddI) versus AZT/ddI combined with nevirapine in HIV-infected patients, and to obtain preliminary anti-HIV activity data using immunologic and virologic markers. Previous in vitro studies suggest that HIV that has already developed resistance to AZT and ddI is less able to develop resistance to nevirapine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Thus, convergent combination therapy with these three drugs in HIV-infected patients may prove more effective.

To evaluate the safety and tolerance of concurrent administration of standard-dose didanosine (ddI) with low-dose ribavirin in HIV-positive patients. To determine the pharmacokinetic interactions of concurrent administration of ddI and ribavirin and correlate pharmacokinetic parameters with toxicity. To investigate antiviral activity of the combined regimen. Combination ddI/ribavirin therapy, if safe and effective, offers an alternative combination antiretroviral regimen for patients unable to tolerate regimens containing zidovudine (AZT).

PRIMARY: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for treatment of oral and esophageal aphthous ulcers (those unrelated to a known infection or malignancy) in patients with advanced HIV disease. To evaluate the effect of thalidomide on HIV load in this patient population. Per 06/28/94 amendment, to evaluate the effectiveness of thalidomide in preventing recurrences in patients whose aphthae completely heal at the end of acute treatment. SECONDARY: To evaluate the effect of thalidomide on blood tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels and to obtain pharmacokinetic data on the drug. Per 06/28/94 amendment, to evaluate the safety of thalidomide. Per 05/10/95 amendment, to explore in a substudy the effects of thalidomide on idiopathic genital aphthous ulcers in HIV-infected women. Aphthous ulcers of the mouth or esophagus can interfere with eating, resulting in malnutrition and wasting. Thalidomide has been proposed as an effective therapy for severe forms of aphthous ulceration in AIDS patients.