AzTrials
AzTrials

HIV-1 InfectionPhase 2NCT04564547

Dose Ranging, Switch Study of Islatravir (MK-8591) and Ulonivirine (MK-8507) Once-Weekly in Virologically-Suppressed Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) [MK-8591-013]

A Phase 2 study testing Islatravir, Ulonivirine and BIC/FTC/TAF in people with HIV-1 Infection, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 23 sites in 3 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of islatravir (ISL) + ulonivirine based on review of the accumulated safety data, in adult participants with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) who have been virologically suppressed for ≥6 months on… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
HIV-1 Infection
What is being tested?
Islatravir, Ulonivirine and BIC/FTC/TAF
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
161 participants
Where
23 sitesin 3 countries
Study dates
9 Mar 2021to 30 Jan 2025
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Is HIV-1 positive with plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA <50 copies/mL at screening
  • Has been virologically suppressed on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) for ≥6 months
  • Has a screening CD4+ T-cell count >200 cells/mm^3 (completed by the central laboratory)
  • Is male or female, at least 18 years of age, at the time of signing the informed consent
  • Female participants are eligible to participate if not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies:
  • Is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP)
  • Is a WOCBP and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of <1% per year), or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis)

Who cannot join

  • Has HIV-2 infection
  • Has hypersensitivity or other contraindication to any of the components of the study interventions as determined by the investigator
  • Has active hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection (defined as detectable HCV RNA) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive or HBV deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] positive)
  • Has a current (active) diagnosis of acute hepatitis due to any cause
  • Has a history of malignancy ≤5 years prior to signing informed consent except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition (including active tuberculosis infection), therapy, laboratory abnormality or other circumstance (including drug or alcohol use or dependence) that might, in the opinion of the investigator, confound the results of the study or interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Is taking or is anticipated to require systemic immunosuppressive therapy, immune modulators, or any prohibited therapies
  • Is currently participating in or has participated in a clinical study with an investigational compound or device from 45 days prior to Day 1 through the study treatment period
  • Has a documented or known virological resistance to ulonivirine or nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI)
  • Is female and expecting to conceive or donate eggs at any time during the study

Trial locations and contacts

23 sites in 3 countries.

23 sites in 3 countries

United States10 sites
  • Saint Hope Foundation, Inc. ( Site 2716)

    Bellaire, Texas, 77401

  • Infectious Disease Specialists Of Atlanta PC ( Site 2704)

    Decatur, Georgia, 30033

  • Texas Centers for Infectious Disease Associates P.A. ( Site 2709)

    Fort Worth, Texas, 76104

  • Midway Immunology and Research ( Site 2713)

    Ft. Pierce, Florida, 34982

  • Kansas City CARE Clinic ( Site 2703)

    Kansas City, Missouri, 64111

  • DCOL Center for Clinical Research ( Site 2715)

    Longview, Texas, 75605

  • Men's Health Foundation ( Site 2710)

    Los Angeles, California, 90069

  • Pueblo Family Physicians ( Site 2702)

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85015

  • Chatham County Health Department ( Site 2707)

    Savannah, Georgia, 31410

  • Triple O Research Institute, P.A. ( Site 2712)

    West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407

Other trials in United States

France8 sites
  • Hopital Avicenne ( Site 2305)

    Bobigny, Seine-Saint-Denis, 93000

  • Hopital Gui de Chauliac. ( Site 2303)

    Montpellier, Herault, 34295

  • CHU Hotel Dieu Nantes ( Site 2310)

    Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, 44093

  • Centre Hospitalier Regional du Orleans ( Site 2304)

    Orléans, Loiret, 45100

  • Hopital Saint Louis ( Site 2308)

    Paris, 75010

  • Hopital Saint-Antoine ( Site 2307)

    Paris, 75012

  • Pitie Salpetriere University Hospital-Infectious Disease - Tropical Diseases ( Site 2306)

    Paris, Île-de-France Region, 75013

  • CHU de Toulouse - Hopital Purpan ( Site 2302)

    Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, 31059

Other trials in France

Switzerland5 sites
  • Universitaetsspital Basel ( Site 2602)

    Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031

  • Inselspital Universitaetsspital Bern ( Site 2603)

    Bern, Canton of Bern, 3010

  • Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve HUG ( Site 2604)

    Geneva, Canton of Geneva, 1211

  • CHUV (centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois) ( Site 2605)

    Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011

  • Universitaetsspital Zuerich ( Site 2601)

    Zuerich, Canton of Aargau, 8091

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: A Phase 2b, Randomized, Active-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Clinical Study to Evaluate a Switch to Islatravir (ISL) and MK-8507 Once-Weekly in Adults With HIV-1 Virologically Suppressed on Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) Once-Daily

This is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of islatravir (ISL) + ulonivirine based on review of the accumulated safety data, in adult participants with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) who have been virologically suppressed for ≥6 months on bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) once-daily.

Read the detailed description

Based on laboratory findings of decreased lymphocyte and CD4+ T-cell counts across the islatravir program and as described in protocol amendment 2 (approved 01-Dec-2021), participants in study Part 1 (double-blind treatment period) were unblinded, discontinued all study interventions, and switched to standard of care non-study antiretroviral (ART) therapy. Participants who received ISL + ulonivirine (Groups 1 to 3) may have then entered into an unblinded safety monitoring period and were monitored for ≥6 months. As specified in protocol amendment 2, study Parts 2 and 3 were no longer planned or initiated for any participant.

Conditions
HIV-1 Infection
Being tested
Islatravir, Ulonivirine, BIC/FTC/TAF, Placebo to ISL, Placebo to Ulonivirine

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • IslatravirDrug

    Also called MK-8591

    ISL capsule taken by mouth.

  • UlonivirineDrug

    Also called MK-8507

    Ulonivirine tablet taken by mouth.

  • BIC/FTC/TAFDrug

    Also called BIKTARVY®

    BIC/FTC/TAF tablet taken by mouth.

  • Placebo to ISLDrug

    Placebo capsule matched to ISL taken by mouth.

  • Placebo to UlonivirineDrug

    Placebo tablet matched to ulonivirine taken by mouth.

  • Placebo to BIC/FTC/TAFDrug

    Placebo tablet matched to BIC/FTC/TAF taken by mouth.

Study groups in NCT04564547
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Group 1: ISL 20 mg + Ulonivirine 100 mgExperimentalParticipants receive ISL 20 mg + ulonivirine 100 mg once weekly (QW) and placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF once daily (QD). Following study-wide discontinuation of study intervention, participants may have entered the optional unblinded safety monitoring period and received standard of care non-study ART.
Receives: Drug: Islatravir; Drug: Ulonivirine; Drug: Placebo to Ulonivirine; Drug: Placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF
Group 2: ISL 20 mg + Ulonivirine 200 mgExperimentalParticipants receive ISL 20 mg + ulonivirine 200 mg QW and placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF QD. Following study-wide discontinuation of study intervention, participants may have entered the optional unblinded safety monitoring period and received standard of care non-study ART.
Receives: Drug: Islatravir; Drug: Ulonivirine; Drug: Placebo to Ulonivirine; Drug: Placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF
Group 3: ISL 20 mg + Ulonivirine 400 mgExperimentalParticipants receive ISL 20 mg + ulonivirine 400 mg QW and placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF QD. Following study-wide discontinuation of study intervention, participants may have entered the optional unblinded safety monitoring period and received standard of care non-study ART.
Receives: Drug: Islatravir; Drug: Ulonivirine; Drug: Placebo to BIC/FTC/TAF
Group 4: BIC/FTC/TAFActive comparatorParticipants receive placebo to ISL + placebo to ulonivirine QW and BIC/FTC/TAF 50 mg/200 mg/25 mg QD.
Receives: Drug: BIC/FTC/TAF; Drug: Placebo to ISL; Drug: Placebo to Ulonivirine

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events (AEs) During the Double-Blind Treatment Period +42 Days Post-Blind

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. As pre-specified in the protocol and supplemental statistical analysis plan (sSAP), presented here is the percentage of participants who experienced one or more AEs during the Double-blind Treatment Period and includes the 42 days following the final dose of double-blind study intervention.

    Measured: Up to approximately 9 months

  2. Percentage of Participants Who Discontinued Study Intervention Due to an AE During the Double-Blind Treatment Period

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. As pre-specified in the protocol and sSAP, presented here is the percentage of participants who discontinued double-blind study intervention due to an AE during the Double-Blind Treatment Period.

    Measured: Up to approximately 8 months

  3. Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More AEs During the Unblinded Safety Monitoring Period

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. As pre-specified in the protocol and sSAP, presented here is the percentage of participants who experienced one or more AEs during the Unblinded Safety Monitoring Period, beginning 42 days following the final dose of double-blind study intervention.

    Measured: Up to approximately 37 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Sep 2020
  2. Study start9 Mar 2021
  3. Primary completion30 Jan 2025
  4. Study completion30 Jan 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
161 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04564547
Sponsor's protocol ID
8591-013
Other IDs
MK-8591-013, 2024-511041-19-00, U1111-1302-9886, 2020-003071-18
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
21 Sep 2020
Last updated
26 Jan 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Islatravir, Ulonivirine and BIC/FTC/TAF in people with HIV-1 Infection, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 23 sites in 3 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 23 sites in United States, France, Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 26 Jan 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percentage of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events (AEs) During the Double-Blind Treatment Period +42 Days Post-Blind (time frame: Up to approximately 9 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Jan 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in