Limsuwan A, Churdboonchart V, Moss R B, Sirawaraporn W, Sutthent R, Smutharaks B, Glidden D, Trauger R, Theofan G, Carlo D
Department of Pathobiology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vaccine. 1998 Jan-Feb;16(2-3):142-9. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(97)88327-2.
The safety and immunogenicity of REMUNE, an HIV-specific immune based therapy for HIV infection, was evaluated in a cohort of 30 HIV infected subjects in Thailand. This therapy utilizes a gp120 depleted inactivated virus (HZ321), which exhibits a high degree of conservation with the core antigens of both type B' and E strains of HIV, the predominant Thailand isolates. The treatment was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported over the course of the 4-month trial. Treatment in which four doses were administered with REMUNE appeared to boost HIV-specific immune responses, with approximately 75% of the treated subjects demonstrating an increase in either the repertoire or the intensity of the serological response to HIV as measured by Western blot. CD4%, viral load, and weight remained stable over the course of the 4-month study relative to baseline values. Viral subtyping of this cohort revealed a predominance of type 'E'. These data suggest that REMUNE is safe and immunogenic in seropositive Thai subjects and supports further study of the therapeutic potential of REMUNE to treat HIV-1 infection.
