A Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Lessertia Frutescens in HIV-infected South African Adults

The study is a 2-stage, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study following a two-stage, statistical selection theory design. Fifty-six HIV positive subjects will be randomized onto Stage 1 that will comprise a 4-arm parallel group (one placebo and 3 treatment groups) trial. One or possibly two interim analyses will be performed to determine continuation to Stage 2. A blinded interim analysis to determine the superior active treatment arm of Stage 1 will be continued to Stage 2 after 8 subjects per arm have completed the 24-week dosing regimen and the interim analysis. The study will be terminated if the interim analysis identifies either significant safety issues, or demonstrable non-significance. Following a significant outcome in the blinded interim analysis, the selected active and placebo control arms will continue blinded until total n=48 participants per arm for the placebo and selected treatment group have completed 24 weeks per arm. Respective groups will receive capsules containing L. frutescens in dosages of 0 (placebo material), 400mg bid, 800 mg bid or 1200 mg bid in the first stage. Progression to stage 2 will utilize a two arm design in which 34 subjects will receive either 0 mg L. frutescens (placebo) or the active dosage of L. frutescens bid for 24 weeks.

Primary objectives are to determine the safety of Lessertia frutescens when used by HIV-1 infected adults with early disease, and to document the impact of Lessertia frutescens on markers of HIV disease progression. Secondary objective is to determine the effect of Lessertia frutescens on quality of life in HIV-infected adults and length of infection.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 21 - 65 years
• HIV-1 infection documented by two different rapid tests for HIV-1 antibodies
• CD4 count >350 cells/ul
• Viral load< 20,000 copies/mL
• Normal hematological function
• Absence of clinically significant renal disease
• Normal liver function
• Random glucose < 11.1 mmol/L
• Normal electrocardiogram
• Regular attendance at the Wellness Clinic for at least 4 visits
• Cognitive capacity sufficient to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Any AIDS-defining diagnosis
• Weight loss > 5% of body weight within the preceding six months
• Other features of undiagnosed tuberculosis (including cough, fatigue, drenching night sweats and abnormal chest radiograph)
• Any other significant disease (active TB, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders, peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal malabsorption, psychiatric illness) either newly diagnosed or controlled by medication.
• Use of any allopathic or traditional medicine other than isoniazid for TB prophylaxis.
• Prior or current use of antiretroviral therapy
• History of allergic conditions or drug allergy/hypersensitivity
• Either history or family history of autoimmune disease
• Alcohol use of >7 units per week or >3 per session, tobacco use of more than 10 cigarettes per day or description of recreational drug use within the past 6 months.