AIDS Clinical Trials Group
Encyclopedia
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) is the largest HIV
clinical trials organization in the world, playing a major role in setting standards of care for HIV infection and opportunistic diseases related to HIV and AIDS
in the United States
and the developed world. The ACTG is composed of, and directed by, leading clinical scientists in HIV/AIDS therapeutic research. The ACTG is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
clinical trials organization in the world, playing a major role in setting standards of care for HIV infection and opportunistic diseases related to HIV and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the developed world. The ACTG is composed of, and directed by, leading clinical scientists in HIV/AIDS therapeutic research. The ACTG is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is one of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health , an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services...
.
Mission
Through innovative studies of the treatment of HIV-1 infection and its complications, ACTG research focuses on:- New therapies based on knowledge of the cellular events and reactions in the development of disease (pathogenesis)
- Treatment strategies to limit replication of HIV-1 and improve disease-free survival among infected individuals
- Rapid development of agents (drugs or treatments) that prevent or delay the complications of HIV-related disorders
- HIV-1 pathogenesis through advanced laboratory investigation
- Recruitment and retention of clinical trial participants who reflect the changing demographics of the AIDS epidemic
- Therapeutic approaches that improve quality of life for persons with HIV-1 infection
History
The ACTG has been pivotal in providing the data necessary for the approval of therapeutic agents, as well as the treatment and prevention strategies, for many opportunistic infections and malignancies.- In 1986 the original AIDS Treatment and Evaluation Units were established by the National Institutes of Health.
- In 1987, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- In 1991 the ACTG split to create the Adult ACTG (AACTG) and the Pediatric ACTG (PACTG)
- In 1995 the AACTG restructured and created a true self-government structure, with self-evaluation of sites, priority setting of scientific research, discretionary spending. The PACTG became its own group and an AIDS Malignancy Consortium was established under the National Cancer Institute.
- In 1999 the AACTG applied for continued funding as an investigator led and run group
- In 2000 the AACTG began the planning and development of international research initiatives in the developing world
Scientific accomplishments
- Integral involvement in new antiretroviral drugAntiretroviral drugAntiretroviral drugs are medications for the treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily HIV. When several such drugs, typically three or four, are taken in combination, the approach is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART...
development: AZTZidovudineZidovudine or azidothymidine is a nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor , a type of antiretroviral drug used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is an analog of thymidine....
, ddC, ddIDidanosineDidanosine is sold under the trade names Videx and Videx EC. It is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, effective against HIV and used in combination with other antiretroviral drug therapy as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy .-History:The related pro-drug of didanosine,...
, d4TStavudineStavudine is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor active against HIV.-History:...
, nevirapine, delavirdineDelavirdineDelavirdine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor marketed by ViiV Healthcare. It is used as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. It is presented as the mesylate...
, indinavirIndinavirIndinavir is a protease inhibitor used as a component of highly active antiretroviral therapy to treat HIV infection and AIDS.-History:...
, amprenavir, ritonavirRitonavirRitonavir, with trade name Norvir , is an antiretroviral drug from the protease inhibitor class used to treat HIV infection and AIDS.... - Established standards for evaluation of combination antiretroviral therapy with Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and Protease inhibitors
-
- Strategies for sequencing of regimens or enhancing their activity
- Evaluation of approaches to salvage therapy
- Evaluation of novel immune-based therapies using interferonInterferonInterferons are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens—such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites—or tumor cells. They allow communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that eradicate pathogens or tumors.IFNs belong to...
s, GM-CSF, G-CSF, thalidomideThalidomideThalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
, IL-2, IL-12Interleukin 12Interleukin 12 is an interleukin that is naturally produced by dendritic cells, macrophages and human B-lymphoblastoid cells in response to antigenic stimulation.-Gene and structure:...
, ciclosporinCiclosporinCiclosporin , cyclosporine , cyclosporin , or cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressant drug widely used in post-allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the immune system, and therefore the risk of organ rejection...
(CsA), prednisonePrednisonePrednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...
, cytotoxic agents, therapeutic immunization- Evaluation of pharmacokinetics of novel agents and important drug interactions
- Established standard of care for treatment and prevention of HIV-1 associated opportunistic complications:
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
- CMVCytomegalovirusCytomegalovirus is a viral genus of the viral group known as Herpesviridae or herpesviruses. It is typically abbreviated as CMV: The species that infects humans is commonly known as human CMV or human herpesvirus-5 , and is the most studied of all cytomegaloviruses...
retinitis - Cryptococcal meningitis
- Toxoplasmic encephalitisToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of feces of a cat that has itself...
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis CHepatitis CHepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
- HistoplasmosisHistoplasmosisHistoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs...
- Herpes virusHerpes virusIn colloquial use, herpes virus refers to the herpes simplex virus, particularly when transmitted sexually.In scientific use, herpesvirus refers to a virus of the taxonomic family herpesviridae....
infections - Mycobacterium avium complexMycobacterium avium complexMycobacterium avium complex is a group of genetically related bacteria belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. It includes Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare....
disease - TuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
- Established standard of care for treatment of HIV-1 associated malignancies
- Evaluation of neurologic complications of HIV/AIDS - dementia, sensory neuropathy