Evaluating the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Antiviral Activity of a Human Monoclonal Antibody (VRC01) in HIV-Infected Adults Undergoing a Brief Treatment Interruption

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and antiviral activity of an antibody (called VRC01) in HIV-infected adults whose HIV was well-controlled with HIV medicines. The study examined whether VRC01 controlled or delayed the return of HIV viremia when the participants' HIV medicines were briefly stopped during the study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and antiviral activity of a human monoclonal antibody, VRC-HIVMAB060-00-AB (known as VRC01), in HIV-infected adults whose HIV was well-controlled with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study examined whether VRC01 delayed or prevented the return of HIV viremia in participants who underwent a brief analytical treatment interruption (ATI).

The study enrolled HIV-infected participants 18 years and older who were on ART (ART was not provided by the study). At a pre-entry study visit, participants underwent blood collection, a leukapheresis procedure, and a rectal biopsy. The study lasted about 34 weeks and proceeded in three stages: Step 1 (approximately 9 weeks), Step 2 (approximately 12 weeks), and Step 3 (approximately 13 weeks).

During Step 1, participants received three doses of VRC01 via intravenous (IV) infusion. The first dose of VRC01 was given on day 0. Seven days after receiving this first dose of VRC01, participants discontinued ART. Participants received the second and third doses of VRC01 at days 21 and 42, respectively. For 7 days after each VRC01 IV infusion, participants monitored and recorded their temperature and any symptoms. In addition to the 3 infusion study visits, participants attended weekly visits from day 7 through approximately day 63 (week 9).

Participants entered Step 2 of the study and resumed ART when they had a confirmed CD4+ T-cell count of less than 350 cells/μL or a confirmed return of HIV-1 viremia, defined per protocol as an HIV-1 RNA measurement of greater than or equal to 200 copies/mL followed by a confirmatory measurement of greater than or equal to 1000 copies/mL or three consecutive HIV-1 RNA measurements of over 200 copies/mL.

Step 2 study visits occurred on the day ART was resumed (Step 2, entry) and every four weeks thereafter (approximately at Step 2, weeks 4, 8, and 12) until a participant's HIV viral load decreased to less than 50 copies/mL.

Throughout the study, visits included clinical assessments and blood collection. Some blood was stored for future testing. Some study visits included the collection of oral, rectal, and (for women) cervical secretion samples. On day 63, participants underwent another leukapheresis procedure and a rectal biopsy.

Participants who completed Step 2 may have optionally entered Step 3 for additional testing. Entry into Step 3 occurred at least 3 months after the participant had completed Step 2. Step 3 participants had additional study visits for a leukapheresis procedure, a rectal biopsy, and clinical follow up.

Eligibility Criteria:
Step 1 Inclusion Criteria:

* HIV-1 infection, documented by any licensed rapid HIV test or HIV enzyme or chemiluminescence immunoassay (E/CIA) test kit at any time prior to study entry and confirmed by a licensed Western blot or a second antibody test by a method other than the initial rapid HIV and/or E/CIA, or by HIV-1 antigen, plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL). More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
* Ability and willingness of participant or legal representative to provide informed consent
* Clinically stable on their first or second ART regimen that includes a boosted protease inhibitor or an integrase inhibitor. The current regimen should have been stable for 8 weeks at the time of entry. Changes while the patient HIV viral load was undetectable did not count toward the number of ART regimens used, (for example, an individual switching from a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimen to an integrase inhibitor based regimen while the HIV viral load is undetectable would still be on their first regimen).
* HIV-1 RNA that is less than 50 copies/mL using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved assay performed by any laboratory that has a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification or its equivalent within 45 days prior to study entry
* HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL using a FDA-approved assay for at least 24 weeks prior to study entry performed by any laboratory that had a CLIA certification or its equivalent. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
* Screening CD4+ T-cell count greater than or equal to 450 cells/μL within 45 days prior to study entry
* Nadir CD4+ T-cell count greater than 200 cells/μL
* Willingness to have blood samples collected, stored indefinitely, and used for study-related research purposes
* The following laboratory values obtained within 45 days prior to enrollment:

  * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1000 cells/mm\^3
  * Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 12.0 g/dL for men and greater than or equal to 11.0 g/dL for women
  * Platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mm\^3
  * Creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 mL/min estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
  * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 2.0 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
* At least eight participants had availability of plasma or serum specimen before the initiation of ART either in the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) repository of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Alabama, or in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) central repository
* For females of reproductive potential (i.e., women who have not been post-menopausal for at least 24 consecutive months; who had menses within the preceding 24 months; or women who had not undergone surgical sterilization, specifically hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy or bilateral salpingectomy), negative urine pregnancy test (with a sensitivity of 15 to 25 mIU/mL) within 48 hours prior to screening and entry. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
* Contraceptive methods were required for female participants of reproductive potential. Female participants of reproductive potential and their male partners MUST HAVE appropriately used at least two contraceptives, with one method being highly effective and the other method being either highly effective or less effective. More information on this criterion, including a list of acceptable contraceptive options, can be found in the protocol.
* Contraceptive methods were required for female partners of reproductive potential of male study participants on study drug. Female partners of reproductive potential of male study participants and/or their male partners MUST HAVE appropriately used at least two contraceptives, with one method being highly effective and the other method being either highly effective or less effective. More information on this criterion, including a list of acceptable contraceptive options, can be found in the protocol.
* Negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) result obtained within 6 months prior to study entry
* Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody negative result within 6 months prior to entry, or if the HCV antibody result was positive, a negative HCV RNA obtained within 6 months prior to study entry
* Adequate venous access in at least one arm

Step 2 Inclusion Criteria:

* Entry into Step 1 of this study (A5340)
* Receipt of at least one dose or partial dose of VRC01 in Step 1
* Reinitiating ART for protocol or non-protocol-defined reasons. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.

Step 3 Inclusion Criteria:

* Entry into and completion of Step 2 of this study (A5340) at least 3 months prior
* HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/ml at pre-entry visit
* Ability and willingness of participant or legal representative to provide informed consent
* Willingness to have blood samples/specimens collected, stored indefinitely, and used for study-related research purposes
* Adequate venous access in at least one arm

Step 1 Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous receipt of humanized or human monoclonal antibody whether licensed or investigational
* Weight greater than 115 kg or less than 53 kg
* History of an AIDS-defining illness
* Ongoing AIDS-related opportunistic infection (including oral thrush)
* History of a severe allergic reaction with generalized urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis in the 2 years prior to enrollment
* Currently breastfeeding
* Receipt of other investigational study agent within 30 days prior to enrollment
* Treatment with systemic glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone or other glucocorticoid) or other immunomodulators (other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs \[NSAIDs\]) within 30 days prior to enrollment
* Any other chronic or clinically significant medical condition that in the opinion of investigator would have jeopardized the safety or rights of the participant, including, but not limited to diabetes mellitus type I, OR clinically significant forms of drug or alcohol abuse, severe asthma, autoimmune disease, uncontrolled hypertension, liver disease, psychiatric disorders, heart disease, or cancer
* Treatment during acute infection (i.e., treatment within 6 months of acute infection)
* Current use of a NNRTI

Step 2 Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-participation in Step 1

Step 3 Exclusion Criterion:

* Non-participation in Step 2