AEGiS-ATDN: Interleukin-2

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Interleukin-2

Information Bulletin #17 - February 2003

IL-2 has long been a source of controversy in the HIV arena. First off, it's shots. Usually lots of them for four or five weeks, then a break, then more weeks of shots. The side effects can be unpleasant, and in some cases severe. Considering the importance placed on CD4 cells counts, however, people have been willing to give it a try. A very large IL-2 study (SILCAAT) that was being conducted by Chiron was recently evaluated to see what effect the drug was having on people in the studies. CD4 cell counts were going up, but special tests of these new CD4 cells didn't show they enhanced the effect of the immune system. The same tests done on people who were not taking the IL-2 showed almost the same results. The sponsor pulled out of the study saying that it was just costing way too much money, and an arrangement was made to continue the study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to see if using the drug had any clinical benefits such as preventing someone from progressing from HIV disease to AIDS, or dying. After an outcry by the scientific community and people on the study, the drug company Chiron said that they would still pay for some of the study, but not as much as originally agreed upon. Chiron will also continue to provide the IL-2 for the study. Administrative oversight of the trial will take place at The University of Minnesota, and sponsorship of the drug's research status (IND) will come from The NIH researchers will now only receive $2,000 a year per enrollee, as opposed to $5,000.

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