LRAs United as a Novel Anti-HIV Strategy. (LUNA)

LRAs United as a Novel Anti-HIV Strategy (LUNA): a Randomized Controlled Trial.

A translational proof of concept study in humans on the primary research question whether novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) latency strategies, including a BAF inhibitor and a histone deacetylase inhibitor, result in HIV reservoir reduction in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIV-1-infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Valproic Acid; Drug: Pyrimethamine

Detailed Description

The retrovirus HIV integrates as proviral DNA in the genome of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ T cells. A subset form a reservoir of latently infected long-lived memory T-cells with nearly absent HIV-DNA transcription. This persistent latent HIV reservoir is the major obstacle for a cure. HIV latency is sustained by multiple host factors that restrict the viral promotor and expression of the viral genome. Latency reversing agents (LRA) can remove these restrictive components and mediate HIV latency reversal. LRA monotherapy with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) alone, including valproic acid, vorinostat, romidepsin, or panobinostat, reactivate HIV but seems insufficient to eliminate the reservoir in vivo. Our research group has identified the BAF complex as another repressive factor that maintains HIV latency. Pyrimethamine acts as an inhibitor of this BAF complex, is capable of reactivating HIV from latency at clinical tolerable concentrations, and acts synergistic with other LRA classes. This offers new opportunities for cure research. This is the first translational clinical study with BAF inhibitors and it assesses the potential synergism of 2 LRA with different modes of action on the reservoir in HIV patients.

Primary objective:

The longitudinal assessment of the effects of the BAF inhibitor pyrimethamine and of the HDACi valproic acid on the HIV reservoir in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Study design:

Open label 6 week randomized controlled intervention trial.

Study population:

Participants must be HIV infected, ≥18 years and on antiretroviral therapy with plasma HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL and CD4+ T cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 at enrollment. The HIV-RNA was ≥10.000 copies/mL before antiretroviral therapy initiation.

Intervention:

Participants are randomized to either of 4 arms and receive valproic acid, pyrimethamine, both for 2 weeks, or no intervention. Total study duration is 6 weeks and includes a 2 week treatment period and a 4 week post-treatment period.

Primary endpoint:

The change in HIV reactivation in the reservoir in vivo at treatment initiation and at the end of treatment, measured as the change in cell associated HIV-RNA. The change in reactivation is compared between the treatment arms.

Secondary endpoints:

See below.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 28
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands, 3015 CN
    • Erasmus MC

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. HIV-1 infected patients ≥18 years.
2. World Health Organization (WHO) performance status 0 or 1.
3. Confirmed HIV-1 infection by 4th generation ELISA, Western Blot or PCR.
4. Wild type HIV infection or polymorphisms associated with at highest low-level resistance to any class of ART according to Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Transmitted mutations and acquired mutations due to virological failure associated with resistance of at highest low-level resistance are allowed.
5. On cART.
6. Current plasma HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL for at least 365 days and measured on at least 2 occasions of which at least 1 must be obtained within 365 and 90 days prior to study entry.
7. Current CD4 T-cell count at study entry of ≥200 cells/mm3.
8. Pre-cART HIV-RNA ≥10.000 copies/mL.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous virological failure, defined as either acquired resistance mutations (>low level resistance) on cART or HIV-RNA >1000 copies/mL on two consecutive measurements during cART.
2. Uncontrolled hepatitis B or C co-infection. For hepatitis B: patients should be vaccinated, or on pre-exposure prophylaxis through the use of lamivudine/emtricitabine or tenofovir in their combination ART. Otherwise, standard serological testing should be available within the last 365 days for homosexual HIV positive men. For non-homosexual HIV positive persons, there should be at least one negative hepatitis B test (either by serology or PCR). For homosexual HIV positive men, a negative hepatitis C immunoglobulin G, hepatitis C (HCV) antigen, blot or HCV-RNA PCR should be available within the previous 365 days. For non-homosexual HIV positive persons, there should be at least one negative hepatitis C test (either IgG, blot or PCR) available.
3. Prior exposure to any HDACi, BAFi or other known LRA.
4. Prior exposure to cytotoxic myeloablative chemotherapy for hematological malignancies during cART.
5. Concurrent exposure to strong interacting medication on glucuronidation.
6. Exposure within 90 days prior to study entry to immunomodulators, cytokines, systemic antifungals, dexamethasone, vitamin K antagonists, anti-epileptics, antipsychotics, carbapenems, mefloquine, colestyramine, Any documented opportunistic infection related to HIV in the last 90 days.

7. Inadequate blood counts, renal and hepatic function tests

   1. Haemoglobin <6.5 mmol/L (males) or <6.0 mmol/L (females), leucocytes <2.5 x109/L, absolute neutrophil count <1000 cells/mm3, thrombocytes <100 x109/L, international standardized ratio >1.6, activated partial thromboplastin time >40 seconds.
   2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate <50 mL/min (CKD-EPI),
   3. Alanine aminotransferase or total bilirubin >2.5x upper limit of normal.
   4. All laboratory values must be obtained within 42 days prior to the baseline visit.
8. Megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency.
9. Pancreatitis in last 6 months, or chronic pancreatitis.
10. Active malignancy during the past year with the exception of basal carcinoma of the skin, stage 0 cervical carcinoma, Kaposi Sarcoma treated with cART alone, or other indolent malignancies.
11. Females in the reproductive age cannot participate. Males cannot participate if they refuse to abstain from sex or condom use in serodiscordant sexual contact during the study, except if their sexual partner(s) use pre-exposure prophylaxis.
12. Patients with active substance abuse or registered allergies to the investigational medical products.
13. Last, any other condition (familial, psychological, sociological, geographical) which in the investigator's opinion poses an unacceptable risk or would hamper compliance with the study protocol and follow up schedule, will prohibit participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; This group receives no intervention.
Experimental: Valproic acid; This group receives valproic acid (enteric) for 14 days.	Drug: Valproic Acid; Valproic acid (enteric) 30mg/kg, divided over 2 doses per day, orally on day 1-14.; Other Names: Depakine
Experimental: Pyrimethamine; This group receives pyrimethamine for 14 days.	Drug: Pyrimethamine; Pyrimethamine 200mg once daily (QD) orally on day 1 and 100mg on day 2-14.; Other Names: Daraprim
Experimental: Valproic acid and Pyrimethamine; This group receives valproic acid and pyrimethamine for 14 days.	Drug: Valproic Acid; Valproic acid (enteric) 30mg/kg, divided over 2 doses per day, orally on day 1-14.; Other Names: Depakine; Drug: Pyrimethamine; Pyrimethamine 200mg once daily (QD) orally on day 1 and 100mg on day 2-14.; Other Names: Daraprim

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cell associated HIV-RNA	The change in cell associated HIV-RNA between treatment initiation (week 0) and at the end of study (week 6). The change wil be compared between the study arms.	6 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tat/rev induced limiting dilution assay (TILDA)	The change in TILDA between the groups between week 2 and week 0, between week 6 and week 2, and between week 6 and week 0 The change will be compared between the study arms.	6 week
Synergy	Potential synergism or additive effects of the administration of both drugs will be assessed by performing separate models including either both treatments or separate and subsequently investigating which model best predicts the outcome. the Bliss independence method to assess synergism will be performed. The combination therapy is considered synergistic if the difference and its 95% normal confidence interval (CI) were >0.	6 week
Cell associated HIV-RNA	The change in cell associated HIV-RNA between and within the groups between week 2 and week 0, between week 6 and week 2, and between week 6 and week 0.	6 week
Cell associated HIV-DNA	The change in cell associated HIV-DNA between and within the groups between week 2 and week 0, between week 6 and week 2, and between week 6 and week 0.	6 week
Plasma HIV-RNA	The change in plasma HIV-RNA between and within the groups between week 2 and week 0, between week 6 and week 2, and between week 6 and week 0.	6 week
Histone deacetylation	The change in the level of histone acetylation between and within the groups between week 0 and week 2, and between week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Expression of BAF subunits	The change in the level of expression between and within the groups between week 0 and week 2, and between week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Immunological functionality	The change of the functionality of innate immune cells, HIV specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and HIV specific B-cells between and within the groups between week 0 and week 2, and between week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Immunological cytotoxicity	The change of the cytotoxicity of innate immune cells, HIV specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and HIV specific B-cells between and within the groups between week 0 and week 2, and between week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Immunological phenotype	The change of the phenotype of innate immune cells, HIV specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and HIV specific B-cells between and within the groups between week 0 and week 2, and between week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Reservoir biomarkers	The correlations between clinical markers, markers of the viral reservoir (HIV-DNA, HIV-RNA), frequency and functionality of immune cells, cytokines, and level of acetylation/BAF expression with the change in reservoir (cell asociated-HIVRNA and TILDA) within and between the treatment arms	6 week
In vivo/ex vivo reservoir reactivation correlation	The correlation between ex vivo/in vitro (primary CD4 T cells, and cell line based) LRA efficacy, assessed using the size of the reservoir as measured by TILDA, HIV-DNA, HIV-RNA and level of acetylation/BAF expression after stimulation by pyrimethamine, valproic acid or both, and this will be correlated to these observed reservoir measurements outcomes in vivo at week 2 and week 6.	6 week
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events	The clinical and biochemical adverse events will be assessed by the Common Toxicity Criteria.	6 week
Plasma HIV-RNA	The proportion of subjects with plasma HIV-RNA >=20, >=50, >=200 at weeks 0, weeks 2 and week 6.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir	Plasma concentrations Cmax dolutegravir will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving these medications. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the dolutegravir will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint and use of valproic acid.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir	Plasma concentrations Ctrough dolutegravir will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving these medications. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the dolutegravir will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint and use of valproic acid.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of valproic acid	Plasma concentrations Ctrough of valproic acid will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving these medications. The total and free (nonprotein-bound) plasma concentrations of valproic acid will be measured. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the investigational medical products will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of valproic acid	Plasma concentrations Cmax of valproic acid will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving these medications. The total and free (nonprotein-bound) plasma concentrations of valproic acid will be measured. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the investigational medical products will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine	Plasma concentrations Cmax of pyrimethamine will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving this medication. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the investigational medical products will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint.	6 week
Pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine	Plasma concentrations Ctrough of pyrimethamine will be measured using validated methods in patients receiving this medication. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the investigational medical products will be assessed in relation to the primary endpoint.	6 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Erasmus Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Casper Rokx, MD PhD, Erasmus Medical Center; Principal Investigator: Tokameh Mahmoudi, PhD, Erasmus Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bollen PDJ, Prins HAB, Colbers A, Velthoven-Graafland K, Rijnders BJA, de Vries-Sluijs TEMS, van Nood E, Nouwen J, Bax H, de Mendonca Melo M, Verbon A, Burger DM, Rokx C. The dolutegravir/valproic acid drug-drug interaction is primarily based on protein displacement. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Apr 13;76(5):1273-1276. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkab021.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 18, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 25, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): May 16, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV; HDAC inhibitor; HIV cure; HIV reservoir; Latency reversing agents; BAF inhibitor
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Central Nervous System Depressants; Enzyme Inhibitors; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; GABA Agents; Anticonvulsants; Antimanic Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Folic Acid Antagonists; Valproic Acid; Pyrimethamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2017-002837-48

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided
• IPD Plan Description: No definitive decision on this yet. This will also depend on confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes