Interleukin-2 Boosts CD4 Cells In HIV

4 August 1996

Subcutaneous interleukin-2 (Chiron's Proleukin) can achieve dramatic increases in CD4 cell counts in patients infected with HIV, according to the results of a US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease study presented at last month's AIDS Conference in Vancouver. Previous NIAID studies have shown the benefit of intravenous IL-2 in these patients.

"Our data suggest that therapy with subcutaneous IL-2, in combination with antiretroviral drugs, has the potential to halt the progression of HIV disease by maintaining a person's CD4 T cell count in the normal range for prolonged periods of time," said Robert Davey of the NIAID, who oversees the ongoing Phase II study. While the iv IL-2 data were interesting, the subcutaneous route offers a far more realistic means for patients to self-administer the drug, and is also associated with fewer side effects.

Mean change in CD4 Regimen counts at six months* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.5 MIU bd for 5 days +176/mm3 every 4 weeks 1.5 MIU bd for 5 days +291/mm3 every 8 weeks 7.5 MIU bd for 5 days +849/mm3 every 4 weeks 7.5 MIU bd for 5 days +495/mm3 every 8 weeks -------------------------------------------------------------------------- * patients entered with 600-700 cells/mm3; MIU = million international units

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK





Today's issue

Company Spotlight