BETA INTERFERON TRIAL SEEKS PATIENTS WHO HAD TO REDUCE AZT DOSE

A clinical trial of beta interferon and low-dose AZT is recruiting patients who could not tolerate full-dose AZT and had to reduce the dose. Beta interferon is an antiviral which may work like alpha interferon but have fewer side effects.

In the laboratory, beta interferon reduced the amount of AZT needed to stop HIV replication by up to two-hundredfold, according to a physiciansU fact sheet prepared by the developer. Patients using the drug have had a much lower than expected incidence of opportunistic infections, although it is still too early to be sure that this effect was not due to chance.

The trial is taking place at 20 sites in 12 cities in the U.S.: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Galveston/Houston, Irvine (CA), Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa Bay Area, and Washington, DC. One third of the patients will receive high-dose beta interferon (45 million units), one third low dose (9 million units), and one third placebo; all patients will also be using AZT. The interferon is self- administered once per day by subcutaneous injection.

There is no charge for participating in the trial; however, the study will not pay for the AZT. If beta interferon proves effective, patients who complete the study or are dropped through no fault of their own will be able to receive the interferon free indefinitely.

To qualify for the study, patients must have AIDS or T-cell counts under 200, must not currently have poorly controlled opportunistic infections, extensive KS, or HIV wasting syndrome, and must have hematologic toxicity which required AZT dose reduction but allows 500-600 mg per day to be used. There are several other requirements in addition, such as acceptable liver and kidney function. Full information on eligibility requirements can be obtained from the number below.

The trial is sponsored by Triton Biosciences (a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company), of Alameda, CA. For more information, patients or physicians can call 800/432-2828.