A Study of Valacyclovir Hydrochloride in the Prevention of Life-Threatening Cytomegalovirus Disease in HIV-Infected Patients

Summary

PRIMARY: To evaluate the efficacy of valacyclovir hydrochloride (BW 256U87) in the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) end-organ disease in HIV/CMV co-infected patients with CD4+ lymphocytes \< 100 cells/mm3. To assess the impact of BW 256U87, high-dose oral acyclovir and low-dose oral acyclovir on survival. SECONDARY: To evaluate the effect of BW 256U87 on quality of life, the safety of the drug administered concurrently with standard antiretroviral agents and other essential therapies for the treatment and prevention of opportunistic diseases, and the efficacy of BW 256U87 in suppressing activation of other herpesviruses. To evaluate serologic and virologic risk factors for the development of CMV disease, including assessment of HIV activation, and the risk of developing drug-resistant CMV, HSV, and VZV. Gastrointestinal absorption of acyclovir is not high enough to prevent CMV disease in patients with advanced HIV disease, although there is evidence that high doses of the drug may extend survival. Valacyclovir, a prodrug that is rapidly converted to acyclovir after oral administration, has a higher absorption rate and may therefore provide inhibitory activity against CMV.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

1996-05

Completion

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Publications

• Background Feinberg JE, Hurwitz S, Cooper D, Sattler FR, MacGregor RR, Powderly W, Holland GN, Griffiths PD, Pollard RB, Youle M, Gill MJ, Holland FJ, Power ME, Owens S, Coakley D, Fry J, Jacobson MA. A randomized, double-blind trial of valaciclovir prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus disease in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 204/Glaxo Wellcome 123-014 International CMV Prophylaxis Study Group. J Infect Dis. 1998 Jan;177(1):48-56. doi: 10.1086/513804.
• Background Fry J, Coakley D, Power M, Feinberg J. International collaborative clinical trials: the ACTG 204 experience. Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12;11(2):276 (abstract no ThB4146)
• Background Griffiths PD, Feinberg J. Detection of cytomegalovirus in samples from patients enrolled in ACTG 204 / Glaxo Wellcome 123-014. Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 1996 Jan 28-Feb 1;3rd:54
• Background Brosgart C, Fisher E, Pulling C, Chaloner K, Cohn D, Elsadr W, Verheggen R, Schmetter B, Alston B. Prevalence of asymptomatic CMV retinitis (CMVR) in AIDS patients. Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 1999 Jan 31-Feb 4;6th:152 (abstract no 453)
• Background Fisher E, Brosgart C, Cohn D, Chaloner K, Pulling C, Alston B, Schmetter B, El-Sadr W. Placebo (PLC)-controlled, multicenter trial of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients (pt) with HIV disease. . Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 1999 Jan 31-Feb 4;6th:160 (abstract no 491)
• Background Feinberg JE, Bell WR, Chulay JD. A thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)-like syndrome in patients with advanced HIV disease in a cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis trial (ACTG 204). Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 1997 Jan 22-26;4th:196 (abstract no 715)
• Background Sprenger HG, Law G, Pastoor G, Postma S, Schirm J, Weits J, The TH. Cytomegalovirus antigenemia (CMVAg) compared with other CMV tests during phase III study of valaciclovir (VACV) for CMV prophylaxis in advanced HIV disease (ACTG 204 study). Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12;11(2):285 (abstract no ThB4200)
• Background Bell WR, Chulay JD, Feinberg JE. Manifestations resembling thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease in a cytomegalovirus prophylaxis trial (ACTG 204). Medicine (Baltimore). 1997 Sep;76(5):369-80. doi: 10.1097/00005792-199709000-00004. No abstract available.
• Background Emery V, Sabin C, Feinberg J, Grywacz M, Knight S, Griffiths P. Quantitative effects of valaciclovir on the replication of cytomegalovirus in patients with advanced HIV disease. Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 1999 Jan 31-Feb 4;6th:153 (abstract no 459)
• Background Weinberg A, Schneider SA, Clark JC. Acyclovir (ACV) and valacyclovir (VAL) prophylaxis of AIDS patients does not alter cytomegalovirus (CMV) susceptibility to ganciclovir (GCV) or foscarnet (FOS). Program Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1996 Sep 15-18:202 (abstract no I87)
• Background Nokta MA, Holland F, De Gruttola V, Emery VC, Jacobson MA, Griffiths P, Pollard RB, Feinberg JE; AIDS Clinical Trials Group, Protocol 204/GlaxoWellcome 123-014, International CMV Prophylaxis Study Group. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) polymerase chain reaction profiles in individuals with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection: relationship to CMV disease. J Infect Dis. 2002 Jun 15;185(12):1717-22. doi: 10.1086/340651. Epub 2002 May 31.

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