Summary

Eligibility
for people ages 18 years and up (full criteria)
Healthy Volunteers
healthy people welcome
Location
at San Diego, California and other locations
Dates
study started
completion around
Principal Investigator
by David (Davey) Smith, MD
Headshot of David (Davey) Smith
David (Davey) Smith

Description

Summary

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes a persistent infection that ultimately leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Treatment of HIV-1 infection with combination anti-retroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV-1 replication to undetectable viral levels and saves lives. Nevertheless, ART cannot eradicate latent cellular reservoirs of the virus, and HIV-1 infection remains a life-long battle. Adoptive cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells directed against HIV-1 envelope subunit protein gp120 (HIVCAR T cells) may provide a safe and effective way to eliminate HIV-infected cells.

However, the number of HIV-infected cells is low in participants under ART, and CAR T cells disappear if they are not stimulated by their target antigens. Interestingly, about 95% of HIV-1-infected individuals are CMV-seropositive and CMV-specific T cells have been shown to persist. To overcome the CAR T cells low persistence issue, we propose to make HIV-CAR T cells using autologous cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells, which can be stimulated by endogenous CMV in vivo. The overall hypothesis of this first-in-human Phase 1, open-label, single-arm study is that endogenous immune signals to CMV-specific T cells can maintain the presence of autologous bispecific CMV/HIV-CAR T cells in healthy people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), and achieve long-term remission in the presence of ART.

Official Title

A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Feasibility and Safety of Cytomegalovirus-Specific, Anti-HIV Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CMV-HIV CAR) T Cells in People Living With HIV

Details

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes a persistent infection that ultimately leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Treatment of HIV-1 infection with combination anti-retroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV-1 replication to undetectable viral levels and saves lives. Nevertheless, ART cannot eradicate latent cellular reservoirs of the virus, and HIV-1 infection remains a life-long battle. Adoptive cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells directed against HIV-1 envelope subunit protein gp120 (HIV-CAR T cells) may provide a safe and effective way to eliminate HIV-infected cells. However, HIV-infected cells in participants under ART, and CAR T cells disappear if they are not stimulated by their target antigens. Interestingly, about 95% of individuals with HIV-1 are CMV-seropositive and CMV-specific T cells have been shown to persist at high frequency due to CMV antigen stimulation. To overcome the CAR T cells low persistence issue, we propose to make HIV-CAR T cells using autologous cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells, which can be stimulated by endogenous CMV in vivo. The overall hypothesis of this first-in-human, open-label, single-arm, pilot study is that endogenous immune signals to CMV-specific T cells can maintain the presence of autologous bispecific CMV/HIV-CAR T cells in healthy people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). Based on the results of this safety study, CMV vaccine and analytic treatment interruption will be evaluated with the CMV/HIV-CAR T cell investigational product in a subsequent protocol.

The trial is a first-in-human, pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and safety and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) of CMV/HIV-CAR T cells in PLWH. Eligible participants will temporarily interrupt their ART regimen for 4 days prior to leukapheresis to prevent residual cell drug levels that could inhibit lentiviral transduction of the T cells during CAR T cell manufacturing. Participants will resume their ART regimen immediately after leukapheresis. If the manufacturing is not successful, a second apheresis may be scheduled no sooner than 3 weeks later with temporary interruption of ART regimen for 4 days prior to leukapheresis. Participants will resume their ART regimen immediately after leukapheresis. Once the final cell product is released, participants will receive a single intravenous (IV) infusion of autologous CMV/HIV-CAR T cells (defined as Day 0). Up to three doses of CMV/HIV-CAR T cells may be explored.

Keywords

HIV-1, HIV-1, PLWH (Healthy People Living with HIV-1) autologus, CMV-specific T cells, anti-retroviral therapy (ART), Immunotherapy, CMV/HIV-CAR T Cells

Eligibility

You can join if…

Open to people ages 18 years and up

  • Participant must be ≥ 18 years of age at the time of screening;
  • Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70;
  • Documented HIV-1 infection anytime prior to study entry.;
  • On stable ART with undetectable HIV-1 RNA (i.e < 20 copies /mL) for at least 48 weeks prior to screening (2 plasma HIV-1 RNA blips 25-200 copies/mL are allowable);
  • CD4+ cell count ≥ 450 cells/μL;
  • Adequate organ function;
  • Willingness to interrupt ART regimen for 4 days prior to leukapheresis;
  • Not pregnant or breastfeeding.

You CAN'T join if...

  • Concurrent illness or comorbid condition;
  • History of resistance to two or more classes of antiretroviral drugs;
  • History of prior receipt of an experimental HIV-1, immunotherapeutic agent, or gene therapy product.

Locations

  • UCSD, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health accepting new patients
    San Diego California 92093 United States
  • City of Hope Medical Center accepting new patients
    Duarte California 91010 United States

Lead Scientist at UCSD

  • David (Davey) Smith, MD
    Davey Smith, MD, MAS, is an infectious disease specialist and translational research virologist. In his translational research, he uses basic science techniques to answer clinically relevant questions. Dr. Smith's primary research involves both figuring out how to stop the transmission of HIV and curing HIV, and he has published over 200 scientific publications in these areas.

Details

Status
accepting new patients
Start Date
Completion Date
(estimated)
Sponsor
City of Hope Medical Center
ID
NCT06252402
Phase
Phase 1 research study
Study Type
Interventional
Participants
Expecting 15 study participants
Last Updated