An Open-Label Study of Emtricitabine in Combination With Other Antiretroviral Agents in HIV Infected Pediatric Subjects

An Open-Label Study of a Once Daily Dose of Emtricitabine in Combination With Other Antiretroviral Agents in HIV Infected Pediatric Subjects

To obtain safety and efficacy data for antiretroviral regimens containing emtricitabine in HIV-1 infected pediatric subjects. To determine emtricitabine concentrations in HIV-1 infected pediatric subjects and, if necessary, to refine the dose of emtricitabine to achieve concentrations comparable to those in adults given 200 mg emtricitabine once-daily.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female, aged from 3 to 24 months old or from 7 to 17 years old. (Note: This criterion was based on the subject's age at Baseline [Day 1].)
• Documented evidence of HIV-1 infection. (Note: HIV-1 infection had to be confirmed by two positive results obtained in any of the following:
• at any age: HIV culture, HIV DNA PCR, or plasma HIV RNA of >= 10,000 copies/mL;
• age > 4 weeks: neutralizable HIV p24 antigen; or
• age > 18 months: licensed ELISA with confirmatory Western blot.)
• Body weight > 2.5 kg (>5.5 lb).
• Either ART-naïve or ART-experienced, as defined below:
• ART-naïve: no prior exposure to any ART (with the exception of <= 56 cumulative days of perinatal prophylactic treatment for the prevention of maternal-to-child transmission or <=6 weeks of cumulative postnatal treatment with ZDV monotherapy) and a Screening plasma HIV-1 RNA level of >= 5,000 copies/mL and, in children aged >= 7 years old, a plasma HIV-1 RNA of <= 600,000 copies/mL.

OR

• ART-experienced: no previous treatment with an ART regimen(s) that included either lamivudine and/or an NNRTI and a Screening plasma HIV-1 RNA level of <= 600,000 copies/mL.
• Absolute CD4+ cell count of >= 200 cells/mm3.
• Subjects whose parent or other legal guardian provided written informed consent to participate in the study.
• Female subjects of childbearing potential (i.e., post-pubertal) with a negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-HCG) test at Screening that was confirmed by a negative urine pregnancy test at Baseline, prior to administration of the first dose of emtricitabine.
• If sexually active and/or of childbearing potential, the subject (male and female) had to be willing to use an effective method of contraception while enrolled in the study and for a period of at least 1 month after the last dose of emtricitabine

Exclusion Criteria:

• Either the subject or the subject's parent or other legal guardian was unable to adhere to the child's dosing schedule and protocol evaluations.

• Female subjects who were pregnant or who were breastfeeding.

• Treatment within 30 days prior to Baseline with an investigational drug, agent, and/or vaccine (with the exception of investigational formulations of approved drugs) unless prior approved by both the investigator and sponsor.

• Subjects who required the concomitant use of: (a) immunomodulators (with the exception of immune globulin and colony stimulating factors); (b) investigational drug,agent, and/or vaccines (with the exception of investigational formulations of approved drugs; and/or (c) any medication that was contra-indicated for any protocol-prescribed background medication, unless pre-approved by both the investigator and sponsor.

• Subjects with any of the following laboratory parameters at Screening:

  1. Hemoglobin >= Grade 3 toxicity;
  2. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ Grade 2 toxicity (assessed without Neupogen [filgrastim, G-CSF]);
  3. Platelet count >= Grade 2 toxicity;
  4. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >= Grade 2 toxicity;(Note: Re-screening was NOT allowed for an exclusionary AST or ALT value, unless acute viral hepatitis was documented and the elevated ALT and/or AST demonstrated complete resolution with no exclusionary amylase or lipase value.)
  5. Serum creatinine >= Grade 2 toxicity;
  6. Total bilirubin >= Grade 2 toxicity (other than for Gilbert's syndrome); and
  7. Pancreatic amylase or total amylase plus lipase >= Grade 2 toxicity. (Note: Re-screening was NOT allowed for exclusionary amylase or lipase values.)

• Subjects with any other clinical or laboratory abnormality of >= Grade 3 toxicity (using age-specific toxicity grading scales for children < 13 years old and >= 13 years old at Screening unless pre-approved by the investigator and sponsor.

• Subjects with >= Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy at Screening or with a significant history of peripheral neuropathy.

• Subjects with malabsorption or severe chronic diarrhea (>= Grade 2) within 30 days before Screening, or subjects who were unable to consume adequate oral intake (defined as the inability to eat >= 1 meal(s) a day or to have 3 feedings a day for young infants) because of chronic nausea, emesis, or abdominal or esophageal discomfort.

• Subjects with an acute and serious medical event within 30 days prior to Screening unless pre-approved by the investigator and sponsor. (Note: Acute treatment must have been completed for >= 14 days prior to Baseline.)

• Subjects with an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection within 12 months prior to Screening.

• Life expectancy < 12 months.

• Subjects currently being treated for active tuberculosis.

• Subjects with a history of acute or chronic (clinical or biological) pancreatitis (regardless of their serum amylase levels).

• Any other condition or set of circumstances, which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, could have interfered with the subject's ability to comply with the dosing schedule and complete the study evaluations.