Telaprevir for HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients failing treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (ANRS HC26 TelapreVIH): an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Retreatment with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) results in poor sustained virological response (SVR) rates in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. There are limited data regarding the use of telaprevir plus peg-IFN/RBV in this population. METHODS: HIV type 1-infected patients who previously failed ≥12 weeks of peg-IFN/RBV for HCV genotype 1 coinfection were enrolled in a single-arm, phase 2 trial. Patients with cirrhosis and previous null response were excluded. Authorized antiretrovirals were tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, atazanavir, and raltegravir. All patients received peg-IFN alfa-2a (180 µg/week) plus RBV (1000-1200 mg/day) for 4 weeks, followed by telaprevir (750 mg or 1125 mg every 8 hours with efavirenz) plus peg-IFN/RBV for 12 weeks and peg-IFN/RBV for 32-56 weeks according to virological response at week 8. The primary endpoint was the SVR rate at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR24). RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients started treatment; SVR24 was achieved in 55 (80% [95% confidence interval, 68%-88%). SVR24 was not influenced by baseline fibrosis stage, IL28B genotype, antiretroviral regimen, HCV subtype, CD4 cell count, previous response to HCV treatment, HCV RNA level, or HCV RNA decline at week 4. HCV treatment was discontinued for adverse events (AEs) in 20% of patients, including cutaneous (4%), psychiatric (4%), hematological (6%), and other AEs (6%). Peg-IFN or RBV dose reduction was required in 23% and 43% of patients, respectively. Seventy percent of patients required erythropoietin, blood transfusions, or RBV dose reduction for anemia. Two patients died during the study. No HIV breakthrough was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high discontinuation rate related to toxicity, a substantial proportion of treatment-experienced HIV-coinfected patients achieved SVR24 with a telaprevir-based regimen. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01332955.

Long-term immunogenicity of two doses of 2009 A/H1N1v vaccine with and without AS03(A) adjuvant in HIV-1-infected adults.

OBJECTIVE: In immunocompromised patients, alternative schedules more immunogenic than the standard influenza vaccine regimen are necessary to enhance and prolong vaccine efficacy. We previously reported that the AS03A-adjuvanted 2009 A/H1N1v vaccine yielded a higher short-term immune response than the nonadjuvanted one in HIV-1-infected adults. This study reports the long-term persistence of the immune response. DESIGN AND METHODS: In a prospective, multicenter, randomized, patient-blinded trial, two doses of AS03A-adjuvanted H1N1v vaccine containing 3.75 µg haemagglutinin (n = 155; group A) or nonadjuvanted H1N1v vaccine containing 15 µg haemagglutinin (n = 151; group B), were administered 21 days apart. Haemagglutination inhibition and neutralizing antibodies were assessed 6 and 12 months after vaccination. RESULTS: In group A and B, the seroprotection rates were 83.7 and 59.4% at month 6, and 70.4 and 49.3 at month 12, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, persistence of seroprotection 12 months after vaccination was negatively associated with current smoking (odds ratio = 0.6, P = 0.03) and positively related with the AS03A-adjuvanted H1N1v vaccine (odds ratio = 2.7, P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In HIV-1-infected adults, two doses of adjuvanted influenza vaccine induce long-term persistence of immune response up to 1 year after vaccination.

The effects of a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2a on liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients who did not respond to peg-interferon and ribavirin, a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon could induce fibrosis regression. METHODS: This was a randomized study with two parallel groups. HIV/HCV co-infected patients received peg-interferon α-2a at 180 µg/week or remained on observation for 96 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who experienced a decrease of at least one point in their Metavir fibrosis score between initial and final liver biopsies. Secondary endpoints included plasma fibrosis markers at week 96, occurrence of HCV-related complications, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were randomized (peg-interferon: 25; control: 27) including 18 with cirrhosis. The median (interquartile range) age was 44 (40-46) years, and 69% were male. A total of 64% had ALT levels >1.5 normal values, and the CD4 cell count was 391 (296-537) cells/mm(3); 67% of patients had HIV RNA <200 copies/mL at entry. The main endpoint was assessed in 41 patients. Response rates were 3/20 (15%) and 4/21 (19%) in the peg-interferon and control groups, respectively (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference between peg-interferon and control groups on plasma fibrosis markers at the final visit. Severe liver-related complications were observed in 2 and 5 patients in peg-interferon and control groups, respectively. Three deaths were observed, all in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A maintenance therapy with peg-interferon α-2a over 96 weeks in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, who were non-responders to HCV treatment, did not change liver fibrosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00122616.