Effects of the Probiotic Visbiome Extra Strength on Gut Microbiome & Immune Activation Markers

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: HIV-1 Infection

In brief

The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the probiotic Visbiome Extra Strength reduces inflammation in HIV-infected men and women when compared to a placebo (inactive medication like a dummy pill). The study evaluated whether taking Visbiome Extra Strength by mouth for 24 weeks was safe and well-tolerated for HIV-infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Probiotics are germs such as yeast or bacteria that are found in food and supplements that are used to improve the health of the digestive system. Many people refer to probiotics as "helpful bacteria." These bacteria live in the body and help the body work normally. In some medical conditions, including HIV infection, helpful bacteria are replaced with bacteria that can change the normal intestinal function and increase inflammation. The investigators tested whether giving a probiotic restored normal intestinal function and decreased inflammation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02706717

Run by

Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV/AIDS and Other Infections

People needed

93

Starts

2016-04-01

Expected to finish

2017-08-28

Last updated by the study team

2020-01-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• HIV-1 infection, documented by any licensed rapid HIV test or HIV enzyme or chemiluminescence immunoassay (E/CIA) test kit at any time prior to study entry and confirmed by a licensed Western blot or a second antibody test by a method other than the initial rapid HIV and/or E/CIA, or by HIV-1 antigen, plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load.
• NOTE: The term "licensed" refers to a US FDA-approved kit.
• WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines mandate that confirmation of the initial test result must use a test that is different from the one used for the initial assessment. A reactive initial rapid test should be confirmed by either another type of rapid assay or an E/CIA that is based on a different antigen preparation and/or different test principle (eg, indirect versus competitive), or a Western blot or a plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load.
• Currently on continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART) for ≥48 weeks prior to study entry with no change in the ART regimen within the 24 weeks prior to study entry except as noted below.
• NOTE A: Continuous ART is defined as continuous ART for the 48-week period prior to study entry with no ART interruption longer than 7 consecutive days.
• NOTE B: Modifications of ART during the 24 weeks prior to study entry are permitted in certain circumstances. For example, the change in formulation (eg, from standard formulation to fixed-dose combination including ART modifications switching from ritonavir- to cobicistat-boosted protease inhibitors or from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to tenofovir alafenamide) is allowed within 24 weeks prior to study entry. A within-class, single-drug substitution (eg, switch from nevirapine to efavirenz or from atazanavir to darunavir) is allowed within 24 weeks prior to study entry, with the exception of a switch between any other NRTI to/from abacavir. No other changes in ART within the 24 weeks prior to study entry are permitted.
• No plan to change ART regimen for the study duration.
• Screening CD4+ cell count >200 cells/mm3 obtained within 45 days prior to study entry by any US laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent.
• Screening HIV-1 RNA levels <50 copies/mL using a FDA-approved assay performed by any laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent within 45 days prior to study entry.
• HIV-1 RNA levels below the limit of quantification using a FDA-approved assay with a quantification limit of 50 copies/mL or lower for at least 48 weeks prior to study entry performed by any laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent.
• NOTE: Single determinations that are between the assay quantification limit and 500 copies/mL (ie, "blips") are allowed as long as the preceding and subsequent determinations are below the level of quantification. The screening value may serve as the subsequent undetectable value following a blip.
• The following laboratory values obtained within 45 days prior to entry by any US laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent:
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000/mm3
• Hemoglobin ≥10.0 g/dL for men and 9.0 g/dL for women
• Platelet count ≥50,000/mm3
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SGOT) ≤5 x upper limit normal (ULN)
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SGPT) ≤5 x ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤5 x upper limit normal ULN
• Total bilirubin ≤2.5 x ULN (if on atazanavir ≤5 x ULN)
• Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) >60 mL/min, as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation.
• For females of reproductive potential, negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 45 days prior to entry by any US clinic or laboratory that has a CLIA certification or its equivalent, or is using a point-of-care (POC)/ CLIA-waived test, or at any network-approved non-US laboratory or clinic that operates in accordance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) and participates in appropriate external quality assurance programs.
• If participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, the female study participant must be willing to use a contraceptive while receiving protocol-specified medication. At least one of the following methods MUST be used:
• Condoms (male or female), with or without a spermicidal agent
• Diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide
• Intrauterine device (IUD)

You may not qualify if…

• Initiation of ART during acute HIV infection.
• NOTE: Participants who initiate ART within 6 months of HIV seroconversion are considered to have been initiated during acute infection and are excluded.
• Receipt of antibiotic therapy within 60 days prior to study entry.
• NOTE: Antibiotics for opportunistic infection prophylaxis are exclusionary.
• Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of Visbiome Extra Strength or its formulation.
• Use of investigational therapies or investigational vaccines within 90 days prior to study entry.
• Non-investigational vaccinations within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that in the opinion of the site investigator would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
• Serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 30 days prior to entry.
• History of positive HCV antibody with detectable HCV RNA in plasma within 48 weeks prior to study entry.
• NOTE: Persons with positive HCV Ab but negative plasma HCV RNA are allowed to participate. Sites must document negative HCV RNA within 24 weeks of study entry.
• History of positive HBsAg within 48 weeks prior to study entry.
• Liver cirrhosis, history of inflammatory bowel disease, total colectomy, colon or rectal anastomosis, bowel resection, or current colostomy.
• Current diagnosis of diabetes.
• Either breastfeeding or pregnant within 24 weeks prior to study entry.
• OIs within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Use of any of the following medications/products for more than 3 consecutive days within the 60 days prior to study entry:
• Immunosuppressives (eg, azathioprine, corticosteroids greater than 20 mg per day [physiologic replacement doses are allowed], cyclosporine, mycophenolate, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), interferon, sirolimus, sulfasalazine, tacrolimus).
• Immune modulators (eg, cytokines [eg, IL-2], granulocyte colony stimulating factor, growth hormone, tumor necrosis factor antagonists, thalidomide).
• Antineoplastic agents (except for topical agents for skin cancer).
• Probiotics and prebiotics (supplements and products).
• NOTE: Yogurt with live cultures is allowed.
• History of lactose intolerance or milk allergy.
• Any episode of acute or persistent diarrhea within 60 days prior to study entry.
• NOTES:

Where it is running

• 31788 Alabama CRS — Birmingham, Alabama, United States
• UCLA CARE Center CRS (601) — Los Angeles, California, United States
• 701 University of California, San Diego AntiViral Research Center CRS — San Diego, California, United States
• 801 University of California, San Francisco HIV/AIDS CRS — San Francisco, California, United States
• University of Colorado Hospital CRS (6101) — Aurora, Colorado, United States
• Northwestern University CRS (2701) — Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Rush University Medical Center (2702) — Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Johns Hopkins Adult AIDS CRS (201) — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• Washington University CRS (2101) — St Louis, Missouri, United States
• 31786 New Jersey Medical School Clinical Research Center CRS — Newark, New Jersey, United States
• 7804 Weill Cornell Chelsea CRS — New York, New York, United States
• Columbia Physicians and Surgeons CRS (30329) — New York, New York, United States
• 7803 Weill Cornell Upton CRS — New York, New York, United States
• Unc Aids Crs (3201) — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
• Greensboro CRS (3203) — Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
• University of Cincinnati CRS (2401) — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
• Case CRS (2501) — Cleveland, Ohio, United States
• The Ohio State University AIDS CRS (2301) — Columbus, Ohio, United States
• 6201 Penn Therapeutics CRS — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• Pittsburgh CRS (1001) — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
• Vanderbilt Therapeutics CRS (3652) — Nashville, Tennessee, United States
• Trinity Health and Wellness Center CRS (31443) — Dallas, Texas, United States
• Houston AIDS Research Team CRS (31473) — Houston, Texas, United States
• University of Washington AIDS CRS (1401) — Seattle, Washington, United States
• Puerto Rico-AIDS CRS (5401) — San Juan, Puerto Rico

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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