This study will test the safety, side effects and anti-HIV activity of different doses of
capravirine in children and adolescents with HIV infection. Capravirine belongs to a class of
drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), which prevent the
virus from replicating (making more copies of itself). Other NNRTIs are nevirapine,
delavirdine and efavirenz.
HIV-infected children between the ages of 4 months and 21 years may be eligible for this
study if they: 1) have received less than 6 weeks of treatment with antiretroviral drugs; 2)
have not benefited from antiretroviral therapy after 12 weeks of treatment; 3) cannot
continue antiretroviral treatment because of harmful side effects.
For the first week of the study, participants will have a 1-week "washout period" in which
they will receive no anti-HIV therapy. During this time, they will have physical, eye and
neuropsychologic examinations, blood and urine tests, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram
(EKG), chest X-ray, head CT scan and skin tests. These physical exams and tests will be
repeated throughout the study to determine changes in health.
After the washout period, patients will take capravirine once a day in the morning for 6
days. After each dose, a small amount of blood will be drawn at 8 different times over 12
hours to measure the activity of the drug and HIV blood levels. A heparin lock will be placed
in the vein to avoid multiple needlesticks. After the 6 days of capravirine there will be
another washout period, this time for 21 days. During this time, doctors will determine the
optimum combination therapy for the individual patient.
After the second washout, patients will begin combination therapy with capravirine plus at
least two other anti-HIV medicines. (These may include a reverse transcriptase inhibitor such
as zidovudine, didanosine, lamuvidine, zalcitabine, or stavudine, and maybe one or more
protease inhibitors such as ritonavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, indinavir or amprenavir.) For
the first week, patients will have a daily blood test to determine HIV blood levels.
Afterwards, treatment will continue on an outpatient basis with clinic visits every 4 to 8
weeks for physical exams, lab tests and other procedures as required. The study will last
approximately 48 weeks. Patients who benefit from capravirine therapy may be able to continue
to receive the drug from the drug company sponsor or as part of another study, or the
protocol for this study may be amended to lengthen the treatment period.