AEGiS-GMHC: Peptide T for Cognitive Impairment

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Peptide T for Cognitive Impairment

GMHC Treatment Issues; Vol 9, Number 9 - September 1995
Theo Smart

A new study using injectable (subcutaneous) peptide T for HIV-associated cognitive impairment has opened at eleven sites nationwide. This study follows a recently concluded German study that found a trend towards improvement in some measures of neurocognitive ability in people with less than 100 CD4 cells who were given peptide T (8.5 mg a day, injected subcutaneously).

Various mechanisms of action have been attributed to peptide T in the course of its long history (see Treatment Issues, February 1994, pages 5-9). It supposedly helps neurocognitive impairment by reducing brain levels of TNF-alpha, an immune system stimulant present in high levels during HIV infection. TNF-alpha has been implicated in at least some of the neurologic damage that occurs in HIV-associated dementia.

This twelve-week study will compare placebo to two doses of peptide T, 8.5 and 17.0 mg a day in at least 160 people with HIV and evidence of HIV-related cognitive impairment. Participants must have adequate English language skills to be able to complete tests used in evaluating cognitive performance. At the completion of the study, participants will receive drug on an open label basis. For more information, call 800/4-STUDY-T.

The sponsoring company, Peptech, also has opened a treatment IND protocol to provide free access to peptide T for fifty people. At present, the program is limited to one site in Baltimore, (through Chase Brexton, call Dr. Karla Alexander, 401/837-2050). Peptech will open two more sites for the program in the future.

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