AEGiS-GMHC: Common Alternative Therapies: Compound Q (GLQ223)

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Common Alternative Therapies: Compound Q (GLQ223)

Gay Men's Health Crisis: Treatment Issues, Volume 7 no. 11/12 - Winter, 1993/94
Bree Scott-Hartland

"Compound Q" is an extract of Tricosanthin, a type of cucumber native to China. It has been used for the past twenty years in China to induce abortions and treat malignant tumors. GLQ223 is a highly purified derivative of Trichosanthin GLQ223 is now being developed by Genelabs Inc. of Redwood City, CA.

Early test tube studies of Compound Q in the winter of 1988/89 caused great excitement among PWAs, due to the agent's ability to selectively inhibit HIV replication in infected T-cells and macrophages. These studies reported that GLQ223 suppressed HIV reproduction as measured by p24 antigen levels[1]; similar results were obtained by the same researchers using the whole blood from PWAs in later studies.[2]

In May 1989, Project Inform and three other groups began a clinical trial of Compound Q injections for AIDS. Some participants, mainly those with the most severe illness, encountered major toxicities, including progression of Kaposi's Sarcoma, coma and death. Other side effects included muscle pain, joint pain, swelling, rashes and hives, all of which resolved upon cessation of treatment.[3, 4 ]

An FDA-approved Phase I trial at San Francisco General Hospital reported fewer serious toxicities in single, rapid IV transfusions of GLQ223 at doses ranging from 1 to 36 micrograms/kg of body weight. The anti-HIV activity was not of sufficient duration for an antiviral effect, however.[4, 5]

A Phase II study of GLQ223 in 148 persons with AIDS or ARC with 200 to 500 CD4 cells who had been taking AZT, began in 1991. Patients were randomized to three arms: AZT, GLQ223, or AZT and GLQ223. Side effects included flu-like symptoms, elevations in muscle and liver enzymes and allergic reactions. There was no difference among the three arms of the study in the time to treatment failure (defined as greater than 25 percent decline in CD4 levels, development of a new AIDS-defining infection, or death).[5]

1. McGrath M, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (US.), 1989; 86: 2844-48.

2. McGrath M, et al. abstract S.B. 464-6.VI International Conference on AIDS. 1990.

3. Waites LA, et al .abstract S.B. 466.VI International Conference on AIDS, 1990.

4. Kahn J, et al. AIDS. 1990; 4:1197-1204.

5. Kahn J, et al. abstract S.B. 465.VI International Conference on AIDS. 1990.

6. AIDS Weekly. November 1, 1993, p3-4.

see also:

Armington K. Treatment Issues. 1990; 4:5.

Copyright © 1993 - Treatment Issues. Reproduced with permission. Treatment Issues is published twelve times yearly by GMHC, Inc. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged. Subscription lists are kept confidential. GMHC Treatment Issues, The Tisch Building, 119 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011 fredg@gmhc.org http://www.gmhc.org

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