Cannabinoids in PLWHIV on Effective ART
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03550352 |
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified June 2018 by Cecilia Costiniuk, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.
Recruitment status was: Not yet recruiting
First Posted : June 8, 2018
Last Update Posted : June 8, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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HIV Infections | Drug: Low CBD dose TN-CT11LM oral capsules(THC2.5 mg/CBD2.5 mg) Drug: High CBD dose TN-TC19LM oral capsules (THC 5 mg / CBD 45 mg) | Phase 2 |
Adults with well-controlled HIV (viral load suppressed for at least 3 years on effective antiretrovirals) will be randomized to receive Tilray oral capsules containing THC and CBD in oil format in 2 different ratios of THC and CBD: CBD Low dose TN-TC11LM oral capsules (THC 2.5 mg / CBD 2.5 mg) vs. High CBD dose TN-TC19LM oral capsules (THC 5 mg / CBD 45 mg). Participants will titrate up the number of capsules consumed based on their own individual tolerability, to a specified maximum daily dose, for a total treatment duration of 12 weeks.
Participants will be assessed regularly via history and physical exam as well as through safety blood work monitoring (hematology and chemistry profiles, liver enzymes, renal function, HIV viral loads, CD4 and CD8 counts). Effect on mood and quality of life will be determined by WHO-QOL-HIV-BREF, EQ-5D and Profile of Mood States questionnaires. Blood work for immune activation and inflammatory profiles, as well as HIV reservoir, will also be drawn at regular intervals.
This pilot study will provide information on feasibility (ie, time to recruitment of participants, whether participants continue the study for the full 12 week duration and complete the follow-up visits and questionnaires, whether treatment is safe and well-tolerated). It will also provide some preliminary data on the ability of TN-TC11LM and TN-TC19LM oral capsules to reduce inflammation and possibly influence HIV persistence.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 26 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Cannabinoids in People Living With HIV on Effective Antiretroviral Therapy: A Pilot Study to Assess Safety, Tolerability and Effect on Immune Activation |
Estimated Study Start Date : | August 2018 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | September 2019 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2019 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Low CBD
Low CBD dose TN-TC11LM oral capsules (THC 2.5 mg / CBD 2.5 mg).
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Drug: Low CBD dose TN-CT11LM oral capsules(THC2.5 mg/CBD2.5 mg)
Participants will start by taking 1 capsule twice daily for 1 week (5 mg THC/5 mg CBD) and increase the number of capsules as tolerated to a maximum of 10 capsules taken throughout the day by weeks 5-12 (25 mg THC/25 mg CBD total per day). |
Experimental: High CBD
High CBD dose TN-TC19LM oral capsules (THC 5 mg / CBD 45 mg).
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Drug: High CBD dose TN-TC19LM oral capsules (THC 5 mg / CBD 45 mg)
Participants will start by taking 1 capsule once daily for 1 week (5 mg THC/45 mg CBD) and increase the number of capsules as tolerated to a maximum of 5 capsules taken throughout the day by weeks 5-12(25 mg THC/225 mg CBD total). |
- WHO toxicity scale [ Time Frame: week 0-12 ]
Proportions of participants in both groups without any signs of significant toxicity as determined by the WHO toxicity scale (i.e., number of participants with Grades 0-2 scores on the WHO toxicity scale) Proportion of participants in both groups without any signs of significant haematological, biochemical, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, dermatological or systemic toxicity (Grades 0-2) as determined by the World Health Organization Toxicity Grading Scale for Determining the Severity of Adverse events (Grades 0=no toxicity; Grade 1=mild, transient or mild discomfort vs. maximum score Grade 4=life-threatening, extreme limitation in activity, significant assistance required)
Toxicity scores (Grade 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4) will be calculated and reported for each domain (hematology, biochemistry, hepatic enzymes, urinalysis, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, dermatological, systemic)
- Change in immune cell profile [ Time Frame: week 0-12 ]Change in CD4 count and their subsets including naïve, central memory and effector memory, Treg and Th17 cells from week 0 to week 12 Change in immune cell profile (frequencies of CD4 T cell counts and their subsets such as naïve, central memory and effector memory T cells; T regulatory cells; Th17 cells) from week 0 to week 12
- Change in plasma inflammatory markers [ Time Frame: week 0-12 ]Change in plasma inflammatory markers from week 0 to week 12 Change in concentration of plasma inflammatory markers (interferon-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin-17, Transforming Growth Factor-β, interferon-gamma-induced protein-10, d-dimer, C-reactive protein, lipopolysaccharide and soluble CD14) from week 0 to week 12
- Change in proportion activated CD4 and CD8 T cell lymphocytes [ Time Frame: week 0-12 ]
Change in CD8+CD38+HLADR+ and CD4+CD38+HLADR+ percentages from week 0 to 12 weeks
Change in proportion activated CD4 and CD8 T cell lymphocytes (CD38+HLADR+) from week 0 to 12 weeks

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 99 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
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Participants must meet all of the following criteria within 4 weeks prior to the week 0 (Baseline 1) visit to be considered eligible for entry into the study:
- Documented HIV infection by Western Blot, EIA assays or viral load assays
- Male or female, Aged 18 or older
- Viral load <40 copies/ml for at least 3 years
- On ART for at least 3 years
- No cannabinoid use for at least 1 month prior to enrolment with negative baseline cannabinoid screen
- Able to communicate adequately in either French or English
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent prior to enrolment including access to relevant medical records
Exclusion Criteria:
- Using cannabinoid-containing products outside of the study or within 4 weeks of study commencement
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study. Female participants must undergo a pregnancy test and obtain a negative result in order to qualify for study participation.
- Enrolled in a separate study involving administration of medication, vitamin, supplement or herbal product.
- Active intravenous drug users
- Active substance dependence
- Prior history of hypersensitivity to cannabis or cannabis-containing products
- Known or suspected allergy to sunflower lecithin oil
- Active opportunistic infection or malignant condition
- Unintentional weight loss of 10 % or more of body weight in the last 6 months
- Unstable angina or acute cardiac event in the past year
- Active psychiatric disorder or history of psychiatric depression (other than mild depression or anxiety); On antipsychotic medication
- Known or suspected family history of schizophrenia or severe personality disorder
- Serious cardiovascular disease such as ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, poorly controlled hypertension, or severe heart failure
- Anemia (Hemoglobin <100 g/L)
- Active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases
- Co-infection with Hepatitis B or C (positive HBsAg or positive anti-HBc antibodies with a detectable HBV DNA viral load or positive anti HCV antibodies with a detectable HCV RNA viral load)
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alkaline phosphatase >2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
- Active AIDS event in the last month as determined by the treating physician
- Renal dysfunction
- Unstable psychological or psychiatric condition as determined by the treating physician
- Holding employment which requires operation of heavy machinery or which requires undergoing drug screening (i.e., pilot or police officer)
- Concurrent use within the past 8 week of anabolic hormones, prednisone, IL-2 or other agents known to alter immune function.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03550352
Contact: Cecilia Costiniuk, MD, MSc | 514-843-2090 | cecilia.costiniuk@mcgill.ca | |
Contact: Zahra Saneei, MSc | 514-934-1934 ext 34066 | Zahra.Saneei@muhc.mcgill.ca |
Canada, Quebec | |
Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre-Glen Site | |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1 | |
Contact: Cecilia Costiniuk, MD,MSc 514-843-2090 cecilia.costiniuk@mcgill.ca | |
Contact: Zahra Saneei, MSc 514-934-1934 ext 34066 Zahra.Saneei@muhc.mcgill.ca |
Principal Investigator: | Cecilia Costiniuk, MD, MSc | McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre |
Responsible Party: | Cecilia Costiniuk, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03550352 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CTNPT 028 2018-4336 ( Registry Identifier: MUHC Research Ethics Board ) |
First Posted: | June 8, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 8, 2018 |
Last Verified: | June 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
HIV Cannabinoids HIV reservoir Microbiome |
CBD THC Inflammation Immune activation |
HIV Infections Lentivirus Infections Retroviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Immune System Diseases Dronabinol Hallucinogens Physiological Effects of Drugs |
Psychotropic Drugs Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Hormones Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists |