A Study of the Effectiveness of Different Anti-HIV Treatments in HIV-Positive Individuals Who Have Been on a Protease Inhibitor-Containing Drug Regimen for at Least 16 Weeks

Overview

The purpose of this study is to compare different treatments for HIV infection to see which works best to lower HIV levels and to raise the number of CD4 cells (cells of the immune system that fight infection), in HIV-positive individuals who have been on a protease inhibitor-containing drug regimen for at least 16 weeks. Researchers have found that combination anti-HIV therapy (multiple drugs given together) can help prevent AIDS-related illnesses and help people with AIDS live longer. In this study, the anti-HIV drug efavirenz (EFV) will be tested with 1 or 2 other protease inhibitors (PIs) to see which combination works best to treat HIV infection. EFV has been shown to limit the amount of HIV virus produced by infected cells.

Current recommendations for the initial treatment of HIV infection have centered on the reduction of plasma HIV levels. It has been shown that a combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and a PI is the most effective barriers to disease progression. This study attempts to demonstrate these data. Two options are available for patients whose initial PI-containing regimen has failed to suppress viral replication. Option 1 consists of immediate versus deferred use of a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Patients who choose Option 1 are randomized to 1 of 2 groups: 1. Ritonavir (RTV) plus soft gelatin capsule saquinavir (SQV-SGC) plus efavirenz (EFV). 2. RTV plus SQV-SGC. Option 2 consists of treatment with a single PI versus double PI. Patients who choose Option 2 are randomized to 1 of 2 groups: 1. Nelfinavir (NFV) plus EFV. 2. RTV plus SQV-SGC plus EFV. Patients failing NFV in Option 2 are randomized to one of two groups: 1. Indinavir (IDV) plus EFV. 2. RTV plus SQV-SGC plus EFV. Patients remain on study treatment regimens for 8 weeks. Follow-up visits, including history and physical evaluations, take place at specified intervals during the next 12 months.