The Safety and Effectiveness of a Type of Interleukin-2 Plus Zidovudine Plus Thymosin in HIV-Positive Patients With and Without Symptoms of Infection

Summary

To determine the safety of thymosin alpha 1 given twice weekly in a regimen of daily oral zidovudine (AZT) and biweekly polyethylene glycolated interleukin-2 (PEG IL-2). To determine the effect of thymosin alpha 1 and PEG IL-2 in combination with AZT on immunologic and pharmacokinetic markers. AIDS is characterized by diminished T helper cell number and function. Thymosin alpha 1 appears to both increase IL-2 receptors on lymphocytes in vitro and enhance lymphocyte maturation in vivo; thus, the drug may further enhance the CD4 T cell levels in patients receiving AZT and PEG IL-2.

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Publications

• Background Ramachandran R, Katzenstein DA, Winters MA, Kundu SK, Merigan TC. Polyethylene glycol-modified interleukin-2 and thymosin alpha 1 in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. J Infect Dis. 1996 Apr;173(4):1005-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/173.4.1005.

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