A Single Dose of Pembrolizumab in HIV-Infected People

Summary

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system. Some people with HIV have a low CD4+ T-cell count despite taking antiviral medicines that control HIV replication. These cells fight disease, so a low count makes it easier for people to become sick. Researchers want to see if a new drug can improve the immune system, including T cells. The drug is called pembrolizumab Objective: To see if pembrolizumab is safe to use in people with HIV who have a low CD4+ T cell count despite taking medicines that control HIV replication, and to see if it strengthens the immune system. Eligibility: People age 18 years or older with HIV who are taking antiretroviral drugs as treatment, have blood HIV levels below detection limits of commercial assays, and have a low CD4+ T-cell count (below 350 cells/mm3). Design: Participants will be screened with: * Medical history * Physical exam * Heart, blood, and urine tests Sexually active participants must use 2 kinds of birth control. Participants will have leukapheresis. Blood will be removed through a needle in one arm. A machine will remove white blood cells. The rest of the blood will be returned into the other arm. Participants will have a baseline visit. They will have blood tests. They may have a pregnancy test. A needle will insert a thin plastic tube (IV) into an arm vein. The participants will get the study drug or a placebo through the IV for 30 minutes. They will be watched for a couple hours after. Participants will have 11 follow-up visits over the next 48 weeks. They will have a physical exam, vital signs, medical review, and blood tests. Participants may have another leukapheresis. Participants will be called every 12 weeks after their last follow-up visit to talk about how they feel and their health. Participation ends after the week 96 phone call.

Timeline

Start

2018-08-06

Primary completion

2021-12-17

Completion

2024-11-18

Outcome

Outcome not reported

Stopped (Enrollment): “Difficulty with subject recruitment”

Publications

• Background Gay CL, Bosch RJ, Ritz J, Hataye JM, Aga E, Tressler RL, Mason SW, Hwang CK, Grasela DM, Ray N, Cyktor JC, Coffin JM, Acosta EP, Koup RA, Mellors JW, Eron JJ; AIDS Clinical Trials 5326 Study Team. Clinical Trial of the Anti-PD-L1 Antibody BMS-936559 in HIV-1 Infected Participants on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy. J Infect Dis. 2017 Jun 1;215(11):1725-1733. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix191.
• Background Day CL, Kaufmann DE, Kiepiela P, Brown JA, Moodley ES, Reddy S, Mackey EW, Miller JD, Leslie AJ, DePierres C, Mncube Z, Duraiswamy J, Zhu B, Eichbaum Q, Altfeld M, Wherry EJ, Coovadia HM, Goulder PJ, Klenerman P, Ahmed R, Freeman GJ, Walker BD. PD-1 expression on HIV-specific T cells is associated with T-cell exhaustion and disease progression. Nature. 2006 Sep 21;443(7109):350-4. doi: 10.1038/nature05115. Epub 2006 Aug 20.
• Henderson LJ, Reoma LB, Kovacs JA, Nath A. Advances toward Curing HIV-1 Infection in Tissue Reservoirs. J Virol. 2020 Jan 17;94(3):e00375-19. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00375-19. Print 2020 Jan 17.

Drugs

Indications