Early intensive treatment for infants with HIV to achieve remission
Official title: Very Early Intensive Treatment of Infants Living With HIV to Achieve HIV Remission: A Phase I/II Proof of Concept Study
Run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · NCT02140255 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether starting strong HIV treatment right after birth can help infants with HIV reach undetectable levels of the virus.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | Any age to 48 Hours |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) NIH |
| Locations | 47 sites (La Jolla, California and 46 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 23, 2015 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2031 |
| Registry record updated | September 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT02140255 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are infants born to mothers with presumed or confirmed HIV infection who did not receive antiretrovirals during pregnancy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have received antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of early intensive antiretroviral therapy (ART) on achieving HIV remission in infants living with HIV. It involves two cohorts: one with infants born to mothers with presumed or confirmed HIV infection who received limited antiretrovirals during pregnancy, and another with infants who tested positive for HIV within 48 hours of birth. The study evaluates five different ART regimens, including combinations of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and various other antiretroviral agents. The goal is to determine the most effective treatment approach for achieving undetectable HIV levels in these infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to effective early treatment strategies that allow infants with HIV to achieve long-term remission.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in early ART approaches for HIV, but this specific combination and timing is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Maternal Inclusion Criteria
1. Presumed or confirmed maternal HIV infection:
* Mothers will be eligible to enroll with EITHER:
* Presumed HIV infection defined as at least one positive rapid HIV antibody-based test result from a sample collected in the peripartum period. Presumed infection must be confirmed within 10 business days of enrollment OR
* Confirmed HIV infection defined as positive results from two samples collected at different timepoints
2. Willing and able to provide written informed consent for participation of herself and her infant. The mother must be of legal age or circumstance to provide independent informed consent as determined by site standard operating procedures (SOPs) and consistent with IRB/EC policies and procedures. Otherwise, informed consent must be obtained from a legal guardian and the mother must provide written assent.
3. Was not previously enrolled in this study with another infant.
4. Did not receive ARVs during the current pregnancy.
5. Infant is eligible per inclusion criteria.
Infant Inclusion Criteria for Step 1
1. Less than or equal to 48 hours of age.
2. Greater than or equal to 37 weeks gestational age at birth (assessment of gestational age will be based on the best clinical estimate determined by date of last menstrual period, antenatal ultrasound, fundal height, or Ballard Score).
3. Greater than or equal to 2 kilograms (kg) at birth.
4. Able to take ARVs by mouth, nasogastric tube, or gastrostomy tube.
5. Has no clinically significant diseases (other than HIV infection) or clinically significant findings during review of medical history or physical examination prior to entry that, in the site investigator's opinion, would interfere with study participation or interpretation.
6. Mother is eligible per inclusion criteria.
Infant Inclusion Criteria for Step 2
1. Enrolled in Step 1.
2. Confirmed in utero HIV infection.
3. Able to take ARVs by mouth, nasogastric tube, or gastrostomy tube.
4. Has no clinically significant diseases (other than HIV infection) or clinically significant findings during review of medical history or physical examination prior to entry that, in the site investigator's opinion, would interfere with study participation or interpretation.
5. Mother (or legal guardian if applicable) is willing and able to provide written informed consent for child's participation in Step 2.
Infant Inclusion Criteria for Step 3
1. Enrolled in Step 2.
2. Has reached Step 2 Week 96.
3. Has the following results based on testing:
* No confirmed plasma HIV RNA ≥200 copies/mL at Step 2 Week 24 and up to but excluding Step 2 Week 48.
* No plasma HIV RNA detected at Step 2 Week 48 and thereafter, with two possible exceptions
* (i) First possible exception: If HIV RNA is detected at or after Step 2 Week 48 with a result \<200 copies/mL, testing will be repeated within three weeks (specimen collection for the confirmatory test must occur within three weeks of specimen collection for the initial test).
* If no HIV RNA is detected on the confirmatory test, or if HIV RNA is detected with a result \<200 copies/mL, the infant will be potentially eligible for Step 3 after an additional 48 weeks of follow-up in Step 2, provided no HIV RNA is detected on any subsequent tests in Step 2.
* If HIV RNA is detected on the confirmatory test with a result ≥200 copies/mL, the infant will not be eligible for Step 3.
* (ii) Second possible exception: If HIV RNA is detected after Step 2 Week 48 with a result \<LOD, the infant will be potentially eligible for Step 3 after an additional 48 weeks of follow-up in Step 2 with no RNA detected. There is no limit on the number of times HIV RNA may be detected with a result \<LOD after Week 48. However, infants with detectable RNA with a result \<LOD after Week 48 will not be considered for entry into Step 3 until after an additional 48 weeks of no RNA detected.
* Participants may experience either or both exceptions at different timepoints during follow-up in Step 2.
4. If breastfed, must have permanently ceased breastfeeding, with no exposure to breast milk for at least six weeks prior to specimen collection for the testing specified in the criterion (#5) below.
5. Has met ALL of the following additional criteria while in Step 2, based on testing between Step 2 Week 84 and Step 2 Week 192 (inclusive):
* Two consecutive negative HIV antibody tests by fourth generation ELISA at least eight weeks apart.
* Two consecutive HIV DNA tests with no DNA detected in at least 850,000 PBMCs assayed at least eight weeks apart.
* CD4 cell percentage greater than or equal to 25% and CD4 cell absolute count greater than or equal to the lower limit of normal for age (≥1000 cells/mL if 2 to less than 3 years of age; ≥750 cells/mL if 3 to less than 5 years of age; ≥500 cells/mL if 5 years of age or older).
* Infant assessed by the site investigator or designee as expected to adhere to the Step 3 Schedule of Evaluations.
* Mother (or legal guardian if applicable) willing and able to provide written informed consent for child's participation in Step 3 and Step 4.
6. No plasma HIV RNA detected by testing after criteria have been confirmed, with specimen collection for the assay within 14 days prior to Step 3 Entry.
Infant Inclusion Criteria for Step 4
1. Enrolled in Step 3.
2. Has met at least one of the following:
* Plasma HIV RNA ≥LOD based on two assays.
* Plasma HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/mL in the presence of fever or other sign or symptom of acute retroviral syndrome.
* Confirmed or suspected diagnosis of acute retroviral syndrome.
* Confirmed or suspected diagnosis of a new WHO Clinical Stage 3 or 4 condition.
* Confirmed CD4 cell percentage less than 25% and CD4 cell absolute count less than the lower limit of normal for age (\<1000 cells/mL if 2 to less than 3 years of age; \<750 cells/mL if 3 to less than 5 years of age; \<500 cells/mL if 5 years of age or older).
* Otherwise assessed by the site investigator or designee, in consultation with the Clinical Management Committee (CMC), as having an indication to re-initiate treatment.
Where it's running
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5048, University of Southern California Clinical Research Site
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting -
5112, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Clinical Research Site
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting -
5052, University of Colorado, Denver Clinical Research Site
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
5051, University of Florida Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Service (UF CARES) Clinical Research Site
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
32515, Rush Univ./Cook County Hosp. Chicago CRS
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
4001, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Clinical Research Site
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Show 41 more locations
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5092, Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Site
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
5114, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center Clinical Research Site
The Bronx, New York, United States Recruiting -
5013, Jacobi Medical Center Clinical Research Site
The Bronx, New York, United States Recruiting -
6501, St Jude Children's Research Hospital Clinical Research Site
Memphis, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
5128, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital Clinical Research Site
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting -
5073, School of Medicine Federal University Minas Gerais Clinical Research Site
Minas Gerais, Brazil Recruiting -
5071, Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagao Gesteira Clinical Research Site
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Recruiting -
30022, Les Centres GHESKIO Clinical Research Site
Port-au-Prince, Haiti Recruiting -
5121, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project Clinical Research Center Kericho Clinical Research Site
Kericho, Kenya Recruiting -
12001, Malawi Clinical Research Site
Lilongwe, Central Region, Malawi Recruiting -
30301, Blantyre Clinical Research Site
Blantyre, Malawi Recruiting -
30300, Umlazi Clinical Research Site
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Recruiting -
5118, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Clinical Research Site
Moshi, Tanzania Recruiting -
5115, Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University Clinical Research Site
Bangkok, Bangkoknoi, Thailand Recruiting -
5116, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital Clinical Research Site
Chiang Mai, Thailand Recruiting -
31798, Baylor-Uganda Clinical Research Site
Kampala, Uganda Recruiting -
30303, Saint Mary's Clinical Research Site
Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe Recruiting -
30306, Seke North Clinical Research Site
Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe Recruiting -
31890, Harare Family Care Clinical Research Site
Harare, Zimbabwe Recruiting -
4601, University of California, San Diego Clinical Research Site
La Jolla, California, United States Completed -
5055, South Florida CDTC Fort Lauderdale Clinical Research Site
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Completed -
5127, Pediatric Perinatal HIV Clinical Research Site
Miami, Florida, United States Withdrawn -
Emory University School of Medicine NICHD CRS
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Withdrawn -
5083, Rush University Cook County Hospital Clinical Research Site
Chicago, Illinois, United States Withdrawn -
Boston Medical Center Ped. HIV Program NICHD CRS
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Withdrawn -
5040, SUNY Stony Brook Clinical Research Site
Stony Brook, New York, United States Withdrawn -
Philadelphia IMPAACT Unit CRS
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Withdrawn -
Seattle Children's Research Institute CRS
Seattle, Washington, United States Withdrawn -
Univ. of Washington NICHD CRS
Seattle, Washington, United States Withdrawn -
Hosp. General de Agudos Buenos Aires Argentina NICHD CRS
Buenos Aires, Argentina Withdrawn -
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceicao NICHD CRS
Porto Alegre, Rio Greande Do Sul, Brazil Completed -
5072, Hospital Federal dos Servidores do Estado Clinical Research Site
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Completed -
5097, Hospital Geral de Nova Igaucu Clinical Research Site
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Completed -
5074, University of Sao Paulo Clinical Research Site
São Paulo, Brazil Completed -
32513, IMPAACT/ Gamma Project/ UPR Pediatric HIV/AIDS Research Network CRS
San Juan, Pr, Puerto Rico Withdrawn -
San Juan City Hosp. PR NICHD CRS
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Withdrawn -
Soweto IMPAACT CRS
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Completed -
Wits RHI Shandukani Research Centre CRS
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Completed -
8950, FAMCRU Clinical Research Site
Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa Completed -
MU-JHU Care Limited CRS
Kampala, Uganda Completed -
George CRS
Lusaka, Zambia Completed
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Anne Coletti, MS
- Email: acoletti@fhi360.org
- Phone: 919-627-6445
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.