A Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Lessertia Frutescens in HIV-infected South African Adults

October 7, 2016 updated by: University of Missouri-Columbia

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Lessertia Frutescens (L.)Goldblatt and J.C. Manning (Syn. Sutherlandia Frutescens (L.)R. Br.)in HIV-infected South African Adults

The study is a 2-stage, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in which fifty-six HIV-positive subjects will be randomized into the first stage. Interim analysis to determine continuation to stage 2 will be performed to determine continuation after 8 subjects per arm have completed a 24-week dosing regimen.

Primary objectives are to determine the safety of Lessertia frutescens when used by HIV-1 infected adults with early disease, and to document the impact of Lessertia frutescens on markers of HIV disease progression. Secondary objective is to determine the effect of Lessertia frutescens on quality of life in HIV-infected adults and length of infection.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study is a 2-stage, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study following a two-stage, statistical selection theory design. Fifty-six HIV positive subjects will be randomized onto Stage 1 that will comprise a 4-arm parallel group (one placebo and 3 treatment groups) trial. One or possibly two interim analyses will be performed to determine continuation to Stage 2. A blinded interim analysis to determine the superior active treatment arm of Stage 1 will be continued to Stage 2 after 8 subjects per arm have completed the 24-week dosing regimen and the interim analysis. The study will be terminated if the interim analysis identifies either significant safety issues, or demonstrable non-significance. Following a significant outcome in the blinded interim analysis, the selected active and placebo control arms will continue blinded until total n=48 participants per arm for the placebo and selected treatment group have completed 24 weeks per arm. Respective groups will receive capsules containing L. frutescens in dosages of 0 (placebo material), 400mg bid, 800 mg bid or 1200 mg bid in the first stage. Progression to stage 2 will utilize a two arm design in which 34 subjects will receive either 0 mg L. frutescens (placebo) or the active dosage of L. frutescens bid for 24 weeks.

Primary objectives are to determine the safety of Lessertia frutescens when used by HIV-1 infected adults with early disease, and to document the impact of Lessertia frutescens on markers of HIV disease progression. Secondary objective is to determine the effect of Lessertia frutescens on quality of life in HIV-infected adults and length of infection.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

133

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 3216
        • Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, Pvt Bag X 509

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 21 - 65 years
  • HIV-1 infection documented by two different rapid tests for HIV-1 antibodies
  • CD4 count >350 cells/ul
  • Viral load< 20,000 copies/mL
  • Normal hematological function
  • Absence of clinically significant renal disease
  • Normal liver function
  • Random glucose < 11.1 mmol/L
  • Normal electrocardiogram
  • Regular attendance at the Wellness Clinic for at least 4 visits
  • Cognitive capacity sufficient to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any AIDS-defining diagnosis
  • Weight loss > 5% of body weight within the preceding six months
  • Other features of undiagnosed tuberculosis (including cough, fatigue, drenching night sweats and abnormal chest radiograph)
  • Any other significant disease (active TB, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders, peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal malabsorption, psychiatric illness) either newly diagnosed or controlled by medication.
  • Use of any allopathic or traditional medicine other than isoniazid for TB prophylaxis.
  • Prior or current use of antiretroviral therapy
  • History of allergic conditions or drug allergy/hypersensitivity
  • Either history or family history of autoimmune disease
  • Alcohol use of >7 units per week or >3 per session, tobacco use of more than 10 cigarettes per day or description of recreational drug use within the past 6 months.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo (capsule filled with inert materials)
Capsules containing 0 mg bid (placebo)
Experimental: Low Dose
400 mg bid Lessertia Frutescens
Capsules containing 400 mg bid of L. frutescens.
Other Names:
  • Lessertia Frutescens
  • Sutherlandia
Experimental: Mid Dose
800 mg bid Lessertia Frutescens
Capsules containing 800 mg bid of L. frutescens.
Other Names:
  • Lessertia Frutescens
  • Sutherlandia
Experimental: High Dose
1200 bid Lessertia Frutescens
Capsules containing 1200 mg bid of L. frutescens.
Other Names:
  • Lessertia Frutescens
  • Sutherlandia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Primary: determine safety of L. frutescens when used by HIV-1 infected adults with early disease, and to document disease progression.
Time Frame: 24 week treatment period
24 week treatment period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Secondary: Determine the effect of L. frutescens on quality of life in HIV-1 infected adults, and length of infection.
Time Frame: 24 week treatment period
24 week treatment period

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: William Folk, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 24, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 25, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

October 26, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 10, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 7, 2016

Last Verified

October 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • U19AT003264-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • TICIPS002_RP01 (E295/05) (Other Grant/Funding Number: Office of Dietary Supplements)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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