Objective: We examined the activity of an HIV-1 immunogen (Remune) on viral load, CD4 cells and HIV-1 specific immunity.
Methods: Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained in a predefined random subset of subjects (n = 252) from a multicentre, double-blind, adjuvant-controlled phase III clinical endpoint study.
Results: The subjects treated with the HIV-1 immunogen had a significantly greater decline in viral load at multiple time points (P < 0.05), a trend towards increased CD4+ T cell counts and significantly enhanced HIV-1 specific immune responses as measured by HIV-1 lymphocyte proliferation (P < 0.001) compared to the adjuvant control group. Furthermore, in the HIV-1 immunogen treated group, enhanced HIV-1 specific lymphocyte proliferative immune responses were associated with decreased HIV-1 plasma RNA.
Conclusion: These results suggest that, in a predefined, random subset of subjects, a beneficial effect of the HIV-1 immunogen was observed on viral load, CD4+ T cells, and HIV-specific immunity. These differences were observed in a background of multiple drug therapies. Ongoing trials are evaluating the effect of the combination of this HIV-1 specific, immune-based therapy with potent antiviral drug therapy on virological outcomes.