Biomarkers for Post-treatment Control in HIV: International Study of the EU2Cure Research Consortium (Phase I) (EU2Control)

July 7, 2026 updated by: Casper Rokx, Erasmus Medical Center

Biomarkers for Post-treatment Control in HIV: International Multicenter Study of the EU2Cure Research Consortium (EU2Control)

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV from a deadly disease into a lifelong infection that can be controlled. Nevertheless, in the majority of people living with HIV (PWH), discontinuation of ART results in viral rebound due to a latent proviral reservoir. Rarely, individuals known as post-treatment controllers (PTC) demonstrate prolonged viral control even after ceasing ART. Investigating the underlying mechanisms driving this sustained viral control has been a goal for the HIV research community. However, previous studies have been hindered by the scarcity of PTC cases, thereby restricting the potential for associative and translational research. Consequently, the aim of this study is to collect and meta-analyse the data from prior trials where PTC have been identified, as well as to retrospectively identify PTC from the routine care outside trials in a multicentre, multinational study called EU2Control. The aggregated clinical data, and the already collected material from trials where PWH consented for use in additional studies on HIV, will be analyzed with the goal to identify predictive biomarkers for sustained viral control. This study will be part of the research line on HIV cure from an ongoing collaborative consortium (EU2Cure). The first phase of this research line involves a retrospective cohort for meta-analysis and establishment of a biobank.

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.

Detailed Description

Baseline demographic and categorical clinical characteristics of PTC and PIC (sex, ART regimen type, early ART initiation) will be summarized as proportions. Continuous variables (age [years], ART duration [years], plasma HIV-1 RNA [copies/mL], leukocyte counts [cells/µL], biochemical parameters) will be summarized separately using descriptive statistics.

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.
Observational

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.
200

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.

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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

People living with HIV meeting PTC inclusion criteria from previous ATI trials. In addition, PTC from routine care will be identified and included. Non controllers will be identified from ATI trials and routine care. To analyse the reservoir size, PTC (both from routine care and ATI trials) will be matched in a 1:1 ratio with non-controllers (NC). We will also match NC to a control group of people living with HIV who did not undergo an ATI (Suppressors). Matching will be performed on gender, age at the start of ATI (+/- 5 years, or age of first included sampling if no ATI performed), current CD4+ (+/- 25%, at the start of ATI or first included sampling if no ATI performed) and total years on ART if possible (+/-1 year, if <5 years on ART. If >5 years on ART: +/- 2 years), if possible. When matching on all criteria is impossible, in order of priority, matching will be done on total years on ART, gender, CD4 T-cell count, age.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. PTC: Viremic people living with HIV (HIV-RNA >1000c/mL) before ART initiation. Plasma HIV-RNA off ART ≤400c/mL at least 2 times at ≥24weeks apart and at ≥2/3rds of HIV-RNA measurements. Elite PTC with ≤50c/mL will be identified.
  2. Post intervention controller (PIC): People living with HIV from ATI or MAP studies who meet the PTC criteria as per ATI/MAP study defined. Additional stratification occurs according to the duration of and level of suppressed plasma HIV-RNA (e.g. ≤400c/mL off ART at least 2 times for ≥8 weeks apart). This is done to streamline PIC definitions and capture PIC inMAP studies with an ART pause of less than 24 weeks.
  3. Controls: non-controllers (NC) with plasma HIV-RNA >1000 c/mL after ART interruption.
  4. Suppressors: viremic people living with HIV (HIV-RNA >1000c/mL) before ART initiation who became HIV-RNA <50c/mL suppressed on ART, remained on ART, and never had viral rebound.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1.Documented refusal of data use for research

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
PTC
Viremic PWH (HIV-RNA >1000c/mL) before ART initiation. Plasma HIV-RNA off ART ≤400c/mL at least 2 times at ≥24weeks apart and at ≥2/3rds of HIV-RNA measurements. Elite PTC with ≤50c/mL will be identified
Other: No Intervention: Observational Cohort
No intervention (observational cohort)
Post intervention controller (PIC)
PWH from ATI or MAP studies who meet the PTC criteria as per ATI/MAP study defined. Additional stratification occurs according to the duration of and level of suppressed plasma HIV-RNA (e.g. ≤400c/mL off ART at least 2 times for ≥8 weeks apart). This is done to streamline PIC definitions and capture PIC in MAP studies with an ART pause of less than 24 weeks.
Other: No Intervention: Observational Cohort
No intervention (observational cohort)
Controls
non-controllers (NC) with plasma HIV-RNA >1000 c/mL after ART interruption
Other: No Intervention: Observational Cohort
No intervention (observational cohort)
Suppressors
viremic PWH (HIV-RNA >1000c/mL) before ART initiation who became HIV-RNA <50c/mL suppressed on ART, remained on ART, and never had viral rebound.
Other: No Intervention: Observational Cohort
No intervention (observational cohort)

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
Intact proviral HIV DNA reservoir size in PTC and PIC before and during ATI
Time Frame: 1 year
Reservoir size will be measured as intact proviral HIV DNA and reported as log copies per 10^6 CD4+ cells. Reservoir size in PTC, PIC, and NC before and after ATI will be described according to data distribution.
1 year
Total integrated HIV DNA reservoir size in PTC and PIC before and during ATI
Time Frame: 1 year
Reservoir size will be measured as total integrated HIV DNA and reported as log copies per 10^6 PBMC. Reservoir size in PTC, PIC, and NC before and after ATI will be described according to data distribution.
1 year
Inducible HIV reservoir size in PTC and PIC before and during ATI
Time Frame: 1 year
Reservoir size will be measured as inducible HIV and reported as log HIV RNA or HIV DNA copies. Reservoir size in PTC, PIC, and NC before and after ATI will be described according to data distribution.
1 year
Time from the start of ATI until first measurement of HIV RNA >50 copies/mL in PTC and PIC.
Time Frame: 1 year
A survival analysis will be done for all PTC, PIC and NC who have been sourced from ATI trials. Baseline will be set as the start of the treatment interruption. Time will be noted in weeks until first measurement of HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL for all study participants. Levels correspond to elite controller definition (Deeks & Walker, 2007), PTC definition, and level below which HIV onward transmission rarely occurs (Gray et al., 2001). Analysis is by Kaplan Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard models with loss of viral control as event. Independent variables can be timing of ART initiation, duration of ART, HIV cure intervention (if any), demographic parameters (sex, age, place of birth, country of residence), viral dynamics (subtype, reservoir size) and immune characteristics (cd4+ count, cd8+ count, cd4/cd8 ratio).
1 year
Time from the start of ATI until first measurement of HIV RNA >400 copies/mL in PTC and PIC.
Time Frame: 1 year
A survival analysis will be done for all PTC, PIC and NC who have been sourced from ATI trials. Baseline will be set as the start of the treatment interruption. Time will be noted in weeks until first measurement of HIV-RNA >400 copies/mL for all study participants. Levels correspond to elite controller definition (Deeks & Walker, 2007), PTC definition, and level below which HIV onward transmission rarely occurs (Gray et al., 2001). Analysis is by Kaplan Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard models with loss of viral control as event. Independent variables can be timing of ART initiation, duration of ART, HIV cure intervention (if any), demographic parameters (sex, age, place of birth, country of residence), viral dynamics (subtype, reservoir size) and immune characteristics (cd4+ count, cd8+ count, cd4/cd8 ratio).
1 year
Time from the start of ATI until first measurement of HIV RNA > 1000 copies/mL in PTC and PIC.
Time Frame: 1 year
A survival analysis will be done for all PTC, PIC and NC who have been sourced from ATI trials. Baseline will be set as the start of the treatment interruption. Time will be noted in weeks until first measurement of HIV-RNA >1000 copies/mL for all study participants. Levels correspond to elite controller definition (Deeks & Walker, 2007), PTC definition, and level below which HIV onward transmission rarely occurs (Gray et al., 2001). Analysis is by Kaplan Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard models with loss of viral control as event. Independent variables can be timing of ART initiation, duration of ART, HIV cure intervention (if any), demographic parameters (sex, age, place of birth, country of residence), viral dynamics (subtype, reservoir size) and immune characteristics (cd4+ count, cd8+ count, cd4/cd8 ratio).
1 year
Number and severity of adverse events during and after ATI.
Time Frame: 1 year
Medical events in PTC, PIC and NC recorded in the clinical file will be described using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. If medical events have been reported using varied terminology in the ATI trials, two separate evaluators will reclassify them using CTCAE v5.0 terminology. In instances of conflicting classifications, an impartial researcher will make the final determination.
1 year
Biobank with samples from PTC, PIC and NC including sampling time points and material available.
Time Frame: 1 year from screening
Available samples will be indexed from previously performed ATI trials. An inventory will be made of the number of samples, type, volume, time of sampling, sampling technique and storage medium.
1 year from screening

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.
Erasmus Medical Center

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.
IRCCS San Raffaele
Radboud University Medical Center
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Oslo University Hospital
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute
Imperial College London
University of Aarhus
University of Oxford
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
Institut Pasteur
University Hospital, Ghent
Pomeranian Medical University Szczecin
University Ghent
Medical University of Warsaw
IrsiCaixa
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, UK
European Aids Treatment Group (EATG), Brussels, Belgium
Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions
EU2Cure consortium

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.

Helpful Links

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.
October 1, 2027

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.
December 1, 2027

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).
May 29, 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.
July 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.
July 9, 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.
July 9, 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.
July 7, 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.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • MEC-2024-0338
  • CO-US-985-7598 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Gilead Sciences)

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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