Efficacy and Safety of Addition of IL-2 to Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a and Ribavirin in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

Pilot Study of Addition of IL-2 to Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a and Ribavirin for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in HIV-HCV Coinfected Patients Non Responders to Three Months of Therapy With Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a and Ribavirin. ANRS HC09 SECOIIA

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of addition of IL-2 to pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin in HIV-HCV coinfected patients non-responders after three months of standard therapy with pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin. IL-2 may enhance numbers and function of CD4 T lymphocytes and specific anti-HCV immune responses and could participate to the control of HCV replication

This pilot study evaluate efficacy and safety of addition of IL-2 to pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin in HIV-HCV coinfected patients non-responders after three months of standard therapy with pegylated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin Eligible patients should have CD4 cells count higher than 300/mm³ if pretreated by antiretroviral therapy or higher than 400/mm³ if naive of antiretroviral therapy, Metavir score with histological fibrosis score F1, F2 or F3.

Recombinant IL-2 will be given subcutaneously at a dose of 3 MUI twice daily for 5 days every 8 weeks for 5 cycles from week 14 to week 46. This national multicenter study will enroll around 75 patients in order to give IL-2 to 20 non-responders.

The primary endpoint is sustained virologic response, defined by undetectable serum HCV-RNA at week 72, six months after the end of therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV-1 infection and HCV infection
• Naive of ribavirin
• CD4 higher than 300 if pretreated by antiretroviral therapy or higher than 400 if naive of antiretroviral therapy
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cirrhosis (histological fibrosis score F4 in Metavir score)
• Other liver disease
• Pregnancy