HIV cure-related studies in Australia
Details of current laboratory, social and clinical studies relating to HIV cure that are underway in Australia. Click on the ‘details’ link for more information about eligibility and what study participation would involve.
Updated 27/05/22
NIVO-LD
This study is looking to explore the impact of Nivolumab (a drug used to treat cancers like melanoma) on immune responses to HIV infection.
There are two phases to this study. In the first phase, 18 people living with HIV on ART will receive one of three different doses of Nivolumab (at much lower doses to that given in cancer therapy) to determine which is the most effective dose.
In the second phase, 24 people living with HIV will be randomly selected to receive either the dose of Nivolumab determined in the first phase to be the most effective or a placebo. They will then undergo a closely monitored 5-week interruption of ART to see if Nivolumab is able to help control HIV without ART. There are strict criteria to restart ART to ensure participant safety.
Principal investigator: Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute
Recruitment location: Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Alfred Clinical Research Unit on 03 9076 6908 or clinresearch@alfred.org.au
Abbvie M19-939
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of multiple doses of ABBV-181 (budigalimab).
This is international study is looking at a new drug called Budigalimab, which is currently undergoing studies in cancer therapy. Budigalimab belongs to a class of drugs known as immune checkpoint blockers. These drugs improve the body’s own immune responses against foreign cells such as cancer and HIV.
The main aim of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of this new drug, but scientists will also study how this drug affects HIV immune responses and the viral reservoir.
Stage 2 of the study is being conducted in Melbourne. Participants will be randomly selected to receive either intravenous Budigalimab or a placebo infusion once every 2 weeks for a total of 4 doses. They will then undergo a closely monitored interruption of ART for up to 12 weeks to see if Budigalimab is able to help control HIV without ART. There are strict criteria to restart ART to ensure participant safety.
Australian investigator: A/Prof Joe Sasadeusz, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Sponsor: AbbVie Pty Ltd
Recruitment location: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Royal Melbourne Clinical Research Unit (03) 9342 2181 or email http://joan.patterson@mh.org.au
Leukapheresis
Large volume PBMC collection using leukapheresis to define HIV persistence in HIV infected adults
This study involves a detailed investigation of white blood cells from HIV+ participants, aiming to find which cell subsets contain virus and whether the virus found is infectious.
Click here to see an interview with Geoff, one of the leukapheresis trial participants.
Principal investigator: Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute
Recruitment location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Alfred Clinical Research Unit on 03 9076 6908
TRESAX
T follicular helper REServoir in AXillary lymph nodes
This study will provide important information on how CD4 T follicular helper cells (TFH) are maintained and contribute to the HIV reservoir during antiretroviral therapy.
Principal Investigator:Prof. Tony Kelleher, Kirby Institute
Recruitment Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact: Dr Mee Ling Munier at cmunier@kirby.unsw.edu.au
Maxine Elfis Maxine.elfis@svha.org.au
HSCT
Impact of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation on HIV viral reservoirs in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy
This study investigates the effect of HSCT (for haematological issues) on the amount of HIV RNA and DNA in the CD4+ T cells of HIV+ participants.
Principal investigator: Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute
Recruitment location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Alfred Clinical Research Unit on 03 9076 6908
iCHIP
Effect of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on HIV persistence: An observational study among HIV patients with cancer
This study is looking to see if immune checkpoint drugs anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA4 can eliminate long lived forms of HIV. A total of 30 people living with HIV who have cancer and require a drug to block PD-1 or CTLA-4 or other immune checkpoint markers, will participate in this project.
Principal investigator: Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute
Recruitment location: Melbourne and Sydney, Australia
Contact: Alfred Clinical Research Unit on 03 9076 6908 or clinresearch@alfred.org.au
HIV-SCT
Blood and Tissue collection of patients with HIV-1 infection undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
This study follows people with HIV who have undergone allogeneic SCT to treat their haematological malignancy. The individual’s response to SCT will be characterised in regard to clinical outcomes, immune reconstitution, transplant complications, the HIV specific immune response and the impact on the HIV viral reservoir. It is only suitable for participants who have HIV and a cancer requiring SCT.
Principal investigator: Dr. Mark Polizzotto, The Kirby Institute
Recruitment location: Sydney, Australia
Contact: St Vincent’s AMR CRP, ph: +61 2 8382 3703
HI-C
HIV Immunity and Cancer cohort biobanking study
This study follows people with HIV who are receiving therapy to treat their cancer. The individual’s response to cancer treatment will be characterised in regard to clinical outcomes, immune reconstitution, transplant complications, the HIV specific immune response and the impact on the HIV viral reservoir. It is only suitable for participant who have HIV and a cancer requiring SCT.
Principal investigator: Dr. Mark Polizzotto, The Kirby Institute
Recruitment location: Sydney, Australia
Contact: St Vincent’s AMR CRP, ph: +61 2 8382 3703
TITAN
Combining a TLR9 agonist with broadly neutralizing antibodies for reservoir reduction and immunological control of HIV infection.
This study is being conducted across multiple countries including Australia, Denmark and the USA. It is exploring the effect of lefitolimod (a drug used in cancer therapy) and the broadly neutralizing antibodies 3BNC117 and 10-1074, on the HIV reservoir and HIV immune responses. Study participants will be will randomly allocated to one of four group and will received either:
- Lefitolimod alone
- Broadly neutralising antibodies alone
- Lefitolimod and broadly neutralising antibodies
- Placebo
After this, study participants will undergo a closely monitored 24-week ART interruption. There are strict criteria to restart ART to ensure participant safety.
Principal investigator (Melbourne site): Prof. Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute
Australian co-ordinating investigator: Dr James McMahon, Alfred Health
Recruitment location: Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Alfred Clinical Research Unit on 03 9076 6908 or clinresearch@alfred.org.au
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