Anakinra, a Recombinant Human IL-1 Receptor Antagonist for Neuroinflammation in HIV-1 Infection

Objective: HIV persists as a reservoir in the brain in several different cell types, including macrophages, microglia and astrocytes, and this reservoir persists even when antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses the virus in blood. This viral persistence in the CNS is thought to cause neuroinflammation through the release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. HIV-infected patients who have evidence of neuroinflammation in CSF are more likely to have cognitive impairment even when the virus is optimally treated with ART. This cognitive impairment, currently named HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), affects 20-37% of the HIV-infected and ART-treated population. Without ART, the rates of severe HAND are incredibly high, but in the current era in areas where ART is widely available, the cognitive deficits are often subtle. Despite this reduction in the degree of impairment and fewer cases of overt dementia, patients with HAND have poor medication adherence, problems with decision making, vocational disability, and an overall reduced quality of life compared to HIV-infected patients without cognitive impairment.

This phase 1 study of anakinra will investigate the safety of anakinra in patients with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. Anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist that has broad anti-inflammatory effects, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in two other inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disorder) for which it is FDA-approved. It has not yet been used in patients with HIV infection.

Study Population: The study will be conducted simultaneously at two centers: the NIH Clinical Center and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Department of Neurology and will enroll twelve participants with HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy. Approximately half of the patients will be enrolled at each site. The study will not enroll patients with evidence of dementia.

Design: This is a single-arm, open-label study of anakinra. Participants will self-administer daily injections of anakinra for 8 weeks. The dose will be increased over the first four weeks to minimize injection site reactions. Participants will be evaluated prior to the first dose of anakinra, weekly during the first five weeks, at the end of anakinra administration, and after an 8-week follow-up period without anakinra.

Patients enrolled at the NIH will complete all visits there. Patients enrolled at JHU will complete all visits there with the exception of the three study MRI s which will be completed at the NIH.