Romidepsin Plus 3BNC117 Phase 2a Study

This is a randomized interventional phase 2a trial of 3BNC117 and romidepsin in human immunodeficiency (HIV-1) infected patients on ART, conducted as a multi-center study at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, the Rockefeller University Hospital, USA, and the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.

Participants will be randomized 1:1 in a non-blinded fashion to receive one of two regimens:

A) Two treatment cycles each consisting of one 3BNC117 infusion (30mg/kg) + three romidepsin infusions (5mg/m2); or

B) Two treatment cycles each consisting of three romidepsin infusions (5mg/m2).

ART will be discontinued 16 weeks after the start of the second treatment cycle (analytical treatment interruption, ATI) and subjects will be monitored weekly for safety and viral rebound. The targeted enrollment is 30 subjects (15 per arm).

Leukapheresis will be performed before and after the two treatment cycles to guarantee sufficient material to investigate changes in the reservoir after the interventions.

The following criteria will require resumption of ART:

• CD4+ T cell-count <350 cells/mm³ (confirmed by repeat measurement)
• 2 consecutive plasma HIV-1 RNA measurements ≥ 200 copies/mL or above their setpoint viremia (if documented)
• Subject request
• Continued ART interruption will, in the opinion of the investigator or study advisers, pose an unacceptable risk to the subject.

If HIV-1 RNA remains undetectable at week 36, subjects will be offered to continue off ART with close monitoring, in conjunction with the subject's primary medical provider, as long as HIV-1 viral rebound does not occur. ART resumption will follow same criteria as detailed above. All subjects will be followed for a total of 48 weeks from enrollment.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults age 18-65 years with documented HIV-1 infection
• CD4+ T-cell count >500 cells/mm3 at screening
• On ART for a minimum of 24 months and HIV-1 RNA plasma level of < 50 copies/ml by standard assays for at least 18 months (a single viral load measurement > 50 but < 500 copies/ml during this time period is allowable).
• Individuals on protease inhibitor or NNRTI-based regimens, or regimens containing cobicistat must be willing to switch to an integrase-inhibitor-based regimen (raltegravir or dolutegravir) prior to enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

• Use of systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressive anti-cancer, or other medications considered significant by the investigators within the last 6 months
• Pregnancy as determined by a positive urine or serum beta-hCG.
• Participant unwilling to use two reliable contraception methods (i.e. condom with spermicide, diaphragm with spermicide, progestin-only containing intrauterine device (IUD) (eg, Mirena, Implanon, Nuva Ring), non-estrogen containing formulations of hormonal birth control drugs with condom) for the study duration.
• Currently breast-feeding.
• History of resistance to 2 or more classes of antiretroviral medications
• Any medical, psychiatric, social, or occupational condition that, as judged by the investigators, would interfere with the evaluation of study objectives (such as severe alcohol or drug abuse, dementia).
• Acute or chronic hepatitis B or C infection as indicated by the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) in blood.
• A history of AIDS-defining illness within 3 years prior to enrollment.
• History of B-cell lymphoma, including CNS lymphoma
• CD4 nadir < 200 cells/mm3
• History of significant coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention with placement of cardiac stents, or family history of sudden death at age < 50 years.
• ECG at screening that shows QTc >450 msec when calculated using the Fridericia formula from either lead V3 or V4, pathological Q-waves (Q-wave > 40 msec or depth > 0.4-0.5 mV), evidence of a ventricular pre-excitation syndromes, complete or incomplete LBBB or RBBB, second or third degree heart block, QRS duration > 120 msec, or bradycardia defined by sinus rate < 50 bps
• Use of QT-prolonging medication, renal or hepatic disease, structural heart disease or left ventricular dysfunction
• Any symptomatic or asymptomatic arrhythmia excluding sinus arrhythmia and bradycardia ≥ 50 bps.
• Laboratory abnormalities in the parameters listed below:

• Absolute neutrophil count ≤ 1,000 cells/μl
• Hemoglobin < 11 gm/dL
• Platelet count < 125,000 cells/μl
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 1.25 x ULN
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) ≥ 1.25 x ULN
• Total bilirubin > 1.0 ULN
• Creatinine > 1.0 ULN
• Any vaccination within 14 days prior to 3BNC117 administration
• Receipt of any therapeutic HIV vaccine in the past
• Receipt of any monoclonal antibody or HDAC inhibitor of any kind in the past.
• Participation in another clinical study of an investigational product currently or within past 12 weeks, or expected participation during this study.