The purpose of this pilot study is to assess feasibility and to examine whether oral cannabinoids (capsules containing either Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) combined or CBD alone) are safe and well-tolerated in people living with HIV. Other aims are to determine whether oral cannabinoids may reduce HIV-associated inflammation. An exploratory objective is to determine whether oral cannabinoids may influence HIV persistence as well as the gastrointestinal microbiome.
Adults with well-controlled HIV (viral load suppressed for at least 3 years on effective antiretrovirals) will be randomized to receive Tilray oral capsules containing either THC and CBD (THC 2.5 mg / CBD 2.5 mg; TN-TC11M2) vs. CBD alone (CBD 200 mg; TN-C200M2). Participants will titrate up the number of capsules consumed based on their own individual tolerability, to a specified maximum daily dose, for a total treatment duration of 12 weeks. Participants will be assessed regularly via history and physical exam as well as through safety blood work monitoring (hematology and chemistry profiles, liver enzymes, renal function, HIV viral loads, CD4 and CD8 counts). Effect on mood and quality of life will be determined by WHO-QOL-HIV-BREF, EQ-5D and Profile of Mood States questionnaires. Blood work for immune activation and inflammatory profiles, as well as HIV reservoir, will also be drawn at regular intervals. This pilot study will provide information on feasibility (ie, time to recruitment of participants, whether participants continue the study for the full 12 week duration and complete the follow-up visits and questionnaires, whether treatment is safe and well-tolerated). It will also provide some preliminary data on the ability of TN-TC11M2 and TN-C200M2 oral capsules to reduce inflammation and possibly influence HIV persistence.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Participants will start by taking 1 capsule twice daily for 1 week (5 mg THC/5 mg CBD) and increase the number of capsules as tolerated to a maximum of 6 capsules taken throughout the day by weeks 5-12 (15 mg THC/15 mg CBD total per day).
Participants will start by taking 1 capsule once daily for 1 week (200 mg CBD) and increase the number of capsules as tolerated to a maximum of 4 capsules taken throughout the day by weeks 5-12 (800 mg CBD total).
Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre-Glen Site
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
WHO toxicity scale
Proportions of participants in both groups without any signs of significant toxicity as determined by the WHO toxicity scale (i.e., number of participants with Grades 0-2 scores on the WHO toxicity scale) Proportion of participants in both groups without any signs of significant haematological, biochemical, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, dermatological or systemic toxicity (Grades 0-2) as determined by the World Health Organization Toxicity Grading Scale for Determining the Severity of Adverse events (Grades 0=no toxicity; Grade 1=mild, transient or mild discomfort vs. maximum score Grade 4=life-threatening, extreme limitation in activity, significant assistance required) Toxicity scores (Grade 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4) will be calculated and reported for each domain (hematology, biochemistry, hepatic enzymes, urinalysis, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, dermatological, systemic)
Time frame: week 0-12
Change in immune cell profile
Change in CD4 count and their subsets including naïve, central memory and effector memory, Treg and Th17 cells from week 0 to week 12 Change in immune cell profile (frequencies of CD4 T cell counts and their subsets such as naïve, central memory and effector memory T cells; T regulatory cells; Th17 cells) from week 0 to week 12
Time frame: week 0-12
Change in plasma inflammatory markers
Change in plasma inflammatory markers from week 0 to week 12 Change in concentration of plasma inflammatory markers (interferon-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin-17, Transforming Growth Factor-β, interferon-gamma-induced protein-10, d-dimer, C-reactive protein, lipopolysaccharide and soluble CD14) from week 0 to week 12
Time frame: week 0-12
Change in proportion activated CD4 and CD8 T cell lymphocytes
Change in CD8+CD38+HLADR+ and CD4+CD38+HLADR+ percentages from week 0 to 12 weeks Change in proportion activated CD4 and CD8 T cell lymphocytes (CD38+HLADR+) from week 0 to 12 weeks
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Time frame: week 0-12