Short-term Effects of Methamphetamine on Residual Latent HIV Disease Study (EMRLHD)

August 13, 2026 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

Short-term Effects of Methamphetamine on Residual Latent HIV Disease (EMRLHD) Study

The most commonly used illicit stimulant in people with HIV (PWH) is methamphetamine (MA). Prior studies demonstrate strong evidence that MA promotes increased HIV transcription as well as immune dysregulation. A challenge in achieving worldwide HIV eradication is targeting specific marginalized populations who are most likely to benefit from an HIV cure but possess poorer immune responses. For this study, N = ~20 PWH virally-suppressed on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with no prior history of MA use disorder will be administered oral methamphetamine to determine the effects of short-term MA exposure on residual virus production, gene expression, and inflammation. Measures of MA exposure in urine and serum will then be associated with residual virus production, gene expression, cell surface immune marker protein expression, and systemic markers of inflammation. Thus, the proposed work will leverage a unique clinical trial design to generate advanced gene expression and immunologic data to identify potential novel targets for reversing HIV latency, reducing inflammation, and personalizing future therapies in PWH who use MA.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94110
        • University of California, San Francisco

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

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent
  • Any gender, age ≥ 18 years < 65 years
  • Laboratory confirmed documentation of HIV-1 infection.
  • Continuous therapy with a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommended/alternative combination ART for least 12 months (at least 3 agents) at study entry with no regimen changes in the preceding 12 weeks
  • Maintenance of undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA ( <40copies/ml) below the limit of quantification for at least 12 months. Episodes of single HIV plasma RNA 50-500 copies/ml will not exclude participation if subsequent HIV plasma RNA is below the limit of assay detection
  • No plans to modify ART during the study period (approximately 4-5 months)
  • Participant and partner(s) are willing to use two forms of contraception throughout the study period as well as up to 60 days after the last day of study completion
  • Ability and availability to participate in the full duration of the study (approximately 4-5 months) and maintain the inclusion/exclusion criteria
  • No current or prior history of methamphetamine (MA) use disorder by DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Participants may have a prior history of taking prescription medications containing amphetamines- type stimulants such as Adderall® or Dexedrine® or Ritalin for the treatment of conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as long as the participant has not taken these medications in the last 12 months or plans to take these medications during the entire study period

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of methamphetamine ("meth") use disorder by DSM-5 diagnostic criteria using the 11-symptom checklist.
  • Evidence of MA use other than due to the administered oral methamphetamine study drug, based on urine, hair, or serum MA measurements collected at baseline and follow-up study visits.
  • Current use of prescription medications containing amphetamine-type stimulants (e. g.,Adderall®, Dexedrine®, Ritalin, etc.) within the past 1 year.
  • Sensitivity or allergy to amphetamine-type stimulants.
  • Current use of any other "psychoactive" drug within the last 1 month. These include cocaine, ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mushrooms, or other recreational drugs - but cannabis, nicotine or caffeine use is ok.
  • Use of illicit opioids (heroin, fentanyl)- but ok if use of prescription opioid agonists with known prescribed doses, such as methadone, hydrocodone (Norco®), buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®), oxycodone (Oxycontin®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®) within the past 3 months by self-report and/or urine qualitative screening.
  • Current moderate to severe use of alcohol use disorder (DSM-5 criteria) as this might put patient at risk of withdrawal during the study.
  • Recent use within the last month of the following medications given potential interactions with oral methamphetamine: acebrophylline, iobenguane, isocarboxazid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine, asunaprevir, bupropion, topical cocaine, fluoxetine, iohexol, linezolid, paroxetine, potassium citrate, quinidine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, tipranavir, and tromethamine.
  • Recent hospitalization in the last 90 days.
  • Recent infection in the last 90 days requiring prolonged (e.g., >3 weeks) of systemic intravenous antibiotics.
  • Known anemia (HIV+ males Hct< 34; females Hct< 32) or contraindication to donating blood.
  • Screening hemoglobin below 12.5 g/dL
  • Poorly controlled hypertension or systolic blood pressure > 140 on repeat measurement in the last 3 months, on more than one occasion.
  • Significant myocardial disease (e.g., current myocarditis or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction below the lower limit of normal) or diagnosed coronary artery disease.
  • History of cardiac arrhythmia that needs to be medically treated.
  • History of psychotic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusional thinking) in the prior 3 months.
  • History of seizures, abnormal electroencephalogram or brain damage with significant persisting neurological deficit in the past 3 months or currently on anti- seizure medications
  • Significant respiratory disease requiring oxygen.
  • Exposure to any immunomodulatory drug (including maraviroc) in the 12 weeks prior to study
  • Prior or current use of experimental agents used with the intent to perturb the HIV-1 viral reservoir in the 12 weeks prior to study.
  • Participants of reproductive potential or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening. All participants of childbearing potential must agree to use a double-barrier method of contraception throughout the study period and up to 90 days after the last dose of MA.
  • Pregnancy. A serum pregnancy test will be performed. If this test is positive, the participant will not be allowed to enter the study since body changes occurring during pregnancy will alter the study results.
  • Recent vaccination within the last 2 weeks prior to study baseline visit.* *Note: Routine or standard of care vaccinations (such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, pneumococcal, and meningococcal vaccinations) are allowed, but must be administered greater than 14 days prior to baseline study visit. For SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, the last dose must be administered at least 14 days prior to baseline study visit.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Oral methamphetamine, then Placebo oral capsule
Participants will be randomized to oral methamphetamine first then placebo oral capsule using a random number generator. 25mg of oral methamphetamine will be administered on three consecutive days. Then the participant will receive the placebo oral capsule for their second treatment phase starting at approximately Day 77. For the placebo treatment, one placebo capsule will be administered orally on three consecutive days.
Drug: Oral Methamphetamine
25mg of oral methamphetamine (over-encapsulated to look similar to placebo capsule) study drug will be administered.
Other Names:
  • Desoxyn
Drug: Placebo oral capsule
One placebo capsule will be administered orally on treatment day.
Other Names:
  • Placebo
Experimental: Placebo oral capsule, then Oral methamphetamine
Participants will be randomized to placebo capsule first then oral methamphetamine using a random number generator. A placebo oral capsule will be administered on three consecutive days. Then the participant will receive the 25mg of oral methamphetamine for their second treatment phase starting at approximately Day 77. For the treatment, one capsule will be administered orally on three consecutive days.
Drug: Oral Methamphetamine
25mg of oral methamphetamine (over-encapsulated to look similar to placebo capsule) study drug will be administered.
Other Names:
  • Desoxyn
Drug: Placebo oral capsule
One placebo capsule will be administered orally on treatment day.
Other Names:
  • Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HIV Transcription (Cell-associated HIV RNA) in Peripheral Blood
Time Frame: 8 hours after drug administration
The change in HIV reservoir size (as measured by cell-associated HIV RNA levels).
8 hours after drug administration

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of California, San Francisco

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sulggi Lee, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco

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 (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 25-44317
  • RM1DA063218 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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