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Phase 2b testing of oral VH4524184 regimens for adults with untreated HIV‑1

A Phase 2b Randomized, Open-Label Active Controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Oral VH4524184 Coadministered With Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Alafenamide in Treatment Naive Viremic Persons With HIV-1 (INNOVATE Study)

Phase 2 Interventional ViiV Healthcare · NCT07202546

This trial will test whether two doses of a new oral medicine, VH4524184 taken with FTC/TAF, can suppress HIV‑1 as well as the standard DTG/3TC treatment in adults who have never received antiretroviral therapy.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorViiV Healthcare Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations113 sites (Bakersfield, California and 112 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07202546 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 2b interventional trial enrolls adults with confirmed HIV‑1 infection who are treatment‑naive and meet laboratory and weight/BMI criteria. Participants are assigned to receive one of two oral doses of VH4524184 combined with emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) or to receive the standard dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) regimen and are followed over time for viral load, CD4 count, and safety outcomes. Key eligibility requirements include screening HIV‑1 RNA ≥1000 copies/mL and CD4+ T‑cell count >200 cells/µL. The goal is to characterize antiviral activity over time and inform optimal dosing and formulation for further development.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with documented HIV‑1 infection who are treatment‑naive, have screening plasma HIV‑1 RNA ≥1000 copies/mL, CD4+ count >200 cells/µL, and meet the study weight/BMI and pregnancy/breastfeeding criteria are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with prior antiretroviral exposure, CD4+ counts ≤200 cells/µL, screening viral load below eligibility, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or those who do not meet the weight/BMI limits or cannot attend the California study sites are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this regimen could provide an effective once‑daily oral option for initial HIV treatment and help identify the best dose and formulation for broader use.

How similar studies have performed: Existing two‑ and three‑drug antiretroviral regimens such as DTG/3TC have shown high success for initial therapy, but VH4524184 is a novel agent with limited public clinical data to date.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participant must be at least 18 years of age (or older, if required for adults by local regulations) at the time of signing the informed consent.
2. Screening CD4+ T-cell count \>200 cells/microlitre (µL).
3. Documented HIV-1 infection and Screening plasma HIV-1 RNA of ≥1000 copies/millilitre (mL). A single repeat of this test is allowed within a single Screening period to determine eligibility.
4. Treatment-naive: Defined as no ARVs (in combination or monotherapy) received after the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection.
5. Body weight \>=50.0 kilogram (kg) \[(110 pounds (lbs)\] for participants assigned male at birth and \>=45.0 kg (99 lbs) for participants assigned female at birth. BMI within the range 18.5-35.5 kg/m\^2 (inclusive - applies to males and females).
6. There are no contraceptive requirements for participants assigned male at birth.
7. Participants assigned female at birth are eligible to participate if they are not pregnant or breastfeeding and one of the following conditions applies:

   * Is a Participant of non-childbearing potential (PONCBP);OR Is a Participant of childbearing potential (POCBP) and using a contraceptive method with a failure rate of less than (\<) 1% prior to and during the study intervention period, and for at least 1 week after the last dose of VH4524184 plus FTC/TAF FDC, or through the end of study (if in the control arm and never received VH4524184).
   * A POCBP must have a negative pregnancy test at Screening (serum) and on Day 1 (urine) before the first dose of study intervention.
   * If a urine test cannot be confirmed as negative (e.g., an ambiguous result), a serum pregnancy test is required. Participant with a positive serum test must be excluded.
8. Capable of giving signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed during the study.
2. Participants with acute HIV infection, evidenced by acute retroviral syndrome (e.g., fever, malaise, fatigue, etc.) and/or evidence of recent (within 3 months) documented viremia without antibody production and/or evidence of recent (within 3 months) documented seroconversion.
3. Any evidence of an active Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Stage 3 disease \[CDC 2014\], except cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma not requiring systemic therapy during the study. Historical CD4+ cell counts less than 200 cells/µL are not exclusionary.
4. Unstable liver disease known biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones or otherwise stable chronic liver disease per investigator assessment).
5. History of cirrhosis with or without viral hepatitis co-infection.
6. Participants with HCV co-infection will be excluded from the study.
7. Individuals who are co-infected with HIV and HBV will be excluded Participants diagnosed with syphilis at Screening (i.e., positive syphilis testing) should be treated as per local guidelines and will be eligible to enroll at any time regardless of the stage of disease.
8. Uncontrolled malignancy is excluded, whereas participants who have controlled malignancies may be included in agreement between the investigator and the ViiV Healthcare medical monitor.
9. Any pre-existing physical, or mental condition (including alcohol or drug abuse) which, in the opinion of the investigator (with or without psychiatric evaluation) or the ViiV Healthcare medical monitor, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the dosing schedule and/or protocol evaluations or which may compromise the safety of the participant.
10. Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator or the ViiV Healthcare medical monitor, that may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study interventions or render the participant unable to take oral medication and normal gastrointestinal anatomy or motility or hepatic and/or renal function
11. Clinically significant CV disease, as defined by history/evidence of congestive heart failure, symptomatic arrhythmia, angina/ischemia, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or any clinically significant cardiac disease.
12. Participants receiving any protocol-prohibited medication and who are unwilling or unable to switch to an alternate medication.
13. History of sensitivity to any of the study medications, or their components or drugs of their class, or a history of drug or other allergy that, in the opinion of the investigator or ViiV Healthcare medical monitor, contraindicates their participation.
14. Current or anticipated need for chronic anti-coagulation with the exception of the use of low dose acetylsalicylic acid (≤325 mg) or hereditary coagulation and platelet disorders such as hemophilia or Von Willebrand Disease.
15. Treatment with any of the following agents within 60 days of Screening: radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, any systemic immune suppressant.
16. Treatment with immunomodulating agents (such as systemic corticosteroids, interleukins, interferons) or any agent with known anti-HIV activity (such as hydroxyurea or foscarnet) within 30 days of Day 1.
17. Treatment with an HIV-1 immunotherapeutic vaccine within 90 days of Screening.
18. Exposure to an approved vaccine within 14 days prior to Day 1.
19. Current enrollment or past participation within the last 30 days before signing of consent in any other clinical study involving an investigational study intervention or any other type of medical research
20. Participants with known or suspected presence of virologic resistance mutations as defined by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database to INSTIs or NRTIs. This determination will be based on local virologic resistance testing, either at Screening or within the 3 months prior to Screening. ViiV Healthcare clinical virologist and/or ViiV Healthcare medical monitor will verify eligibility to this criterion prior to Day 1.
21. Creatinine clearance (eGFR) of \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 via CKD-EPI race neutral method \[Delgado, 2021\].
22. ALT \>3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). A single repeat of ALT is allowed within a single screening period to determine eligibility.
23. Any Grade 4 laboratory abnormality at screening, except for a Grade 4 CPK and lipid abnormalities (e.g., total cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.) will exclude a participant from the study unless the investigator can provide a compelling explanation for the laboratory result(s) and has the assent of the ViiV Healthcare medical monitor. A single repeat of any lab abnormality is allowed within a single screening period to determine eligibility.
24. Any acute laboratory abnormality at screening which, in the opinion of the investigator, should preclude participation in the study of an investigational compound.
25. Exclusion criteria for screening ECG (a single repeat is allowed for eligibility determination and will be the screening ECG entered into the eCRF): QT interval corrected for heart rate according to Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \>450 msec (males) or \>470 msec (females); \>480 msec for participants with bundle branch block.

Where this trial is running

Bakersfield, California and 112 other locations

+63 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions HIV InfectionsFixed dose combinationAntiretroviralAntiviralNaive viremicsInnovateVH4524184
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.