Drug Treatment Combined With Drug and Risk Reduction Counseling to Prevent of HIV Infection and Death Among Injection Drug Users

HIV Infections Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Drug Treatment in Prevention of HIV Infection and Death Among Opiate Dependent Injectors

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS are serious global health problems. Injection drug use is currently the major mode of transmission of HIV in many countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of drug and risk reduction counseling combined with either substitution drug treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NX) or short-term detoxification with BUP/NX in preventing HIV transmission among injection drug users. Participants will be recruited for this study in China and Thailand.

Clinical Trial Description

Effective HIV prevention among injection drug users (IDUs) requires educating the at-risk population about HIV transmission and risky behavior, and providing the means for behavior change. Current treatment for opiate dependence focuses on reducing the frequency of drug use. BUP/NX is a combination pill currently used to treat opiate-dependent individuals. This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two therapies in preventing HIV transmission among IDUs. Drug and risk reduction counseling combined with either long term medication assisted treatment (LT-MAT) with BUP/NX or short term medication assisted treatment (ST-MAT) with BUP/NX will be compared in preventing the transmission of HIV among opiate-dependent individuals.

This study will last 4.5 years. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms. Group 1 will receive LT-MAT with BUP/NX. Group 2 will receive ST-MAT with BUP/NX. An initial 4-week safety and feasibility phase will involve the first 50 participants at each site and will last approximately 30 weeks. Study visits will occur every week and will include a physical exam and blood and urine collection.

The main treatment phase of the study will last 52 weeks. Participants in Group 1 will receive BUP/NX under the tongue, at first daily and then three times a week for 52 weeks. Participants assigned to Group 1 will take part in a BUP/NX reduction phase, which will occur between Weeks 47 and 52. Participants in Group 2 will receive short-term BUP/NX; dosage and length of treatment will be determined by the investigator. Participants assigned to Group 2 will receive BUP/NX for a maximum of 18 days; detoxification may be repeated at Week 26 if the participant is still injecting opiates. After Week 4 of the safety phase and Weeks 26 and 52 of the overall study, participants will complete an intervention acceptability assessment.

In addition, participants in both groups will attend drug and risk reduction counseling weekly. After the first 12 weeks, participants will return every 4 weeks for 10 more counseling sessions. HIV testing, hepatitis C testing, risk assessment, and urine tests for opiates will occur at screening and at Weeks 26, 52, 78, 104, 130 and 156. Plasma from blood samples will be stored at each of these visits. Hepatitis B testing will occur at Week 26. Participants in China will attend study visits through approximately Week 104, and participants in Thailand will attend study visits through approximately Week 156.

Participants in China who have been incarcerated may participate in an optional substudy, which is examining the withdrawal effects from BUP/NX after incarceration. Participants who agree to take part in the substudy will attend one study visit and will complete a questionnaire. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Communicable Diseases
• HIV Infections
• Infections
• Opioid-Related Disorders

• NCT number: NCT00270257
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 3
• Start date: May 2008
• Completion date: July 2012