Merck Protease Inhibitor Combination Trial:

Chapel Hill, Frankfurt (Germany), Hershey, Honolulu,
Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, and Sherman Oaks

An important new trial will compare combination treatment
with L-524 (the Merck protease) plus AZT, vs. L-524 alone and
AZT alone. Volunteers must have a T-helper count under 500,
and no prior treatment with AZT for more than two weeks.
Prior use of ddI, ddC, and investigational drugs is OK, but a
short wash-out period will be required before starting the
study treatment. There are some other entry criteria,
including a viral load of at least HIV RNA copies of at least
50,000 per milliliter (so that improvement in viral load can
be measured). HIV RNA will be tested at the study sites;
there is no other way to know what your level is, as the test
is not widely available.

This trial is scheduled to last 24 weeks. A total of 60
volunteers will be enrolled.

For more information and possible enrollment, contact a study
site convenient for you:

* Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina,
Luigi Troiani, 919/966-6712.

* Frankfurt: Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe --
Universitat, Renata Tiebel, 49-69-6301-7860.

* Hershey, Pennsylvania: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center,
Fran Damianos, 717/531-7488.

* Honolulu: Leahi Hospital, Nancy Hanks, 808/737-0036.

* Philadelphia: 2 sites. (1) Thomas Jefferson University,
Barbara Osborne or Janet Pientka, 215/955-8575. (2)
University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Heidi Lehman, 215/662-
2473.

* Portland, Oregon: The Research and Education Group, Brian
Fodell, 503/229-8428.

* San Francisco: San Francisco General Hospital, Nelson
Murcar, 415/476-9296x84092.

* Sherman Oaks, California: Pacific Oaks Medical Group, Paul
M. Prosser, 818/906-6279

[Note: This is a different trial from the one mentioned in
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #199 (May 20, 1994), which will test a
triple combination of L-524 plus AZT plus ddI, vs. two other
treatment regimens. The trial described here does not include
ddI.]