Factors Influencing Virologic Control During Analytical Treatment Interruptions in HIV Cure Trials—a Pooled Analysis of Individual-Level Data

Abstract Background Achieving antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free virologic control remains a central goal in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure research. To identify factors associated with time to detectable viremia and time to loss of virologic control, we conducted a pooled analysis of 6 interventional trials that included analytical ART interruption. Methods We determined factors influencing time to detectable viremia (plasma HIV-RNA ≥50 copies/mL) and loss of virologic control (2 consecutive measurements of plasma HIV-RNA ≥5000 copies/mL or restart of ART) using Cox proportional hazard regression. Results Among the 91 included participants we found that high levels of total HIV-DNA (≥750 copies/mL) and intact proviral DNA (≥80 copies/106 CD4+ T cells) were both associated with shorter time to detectable viremia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–3.22 and HR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.08–2.58, respectively). Total HIV-DNA ≥750 copies/106 CD4+ T cells also predicted shorter time to loss of virologic control (HR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.01–2.67), as did longer time (≥1 year) from HIV diagnosis to ART start (HR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.02–2.39). Having received histone deacetylase inhibitors predicted shorter time to loss of virologic control (HR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.12–4.41), while broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibody treatment at ART initiation of individuals harboring 3BNC117-sensitive viruses trended towards delayed time to loss of virologic control (HR = 0.32; 95% CI, .10–1.01). Conclusions Our findings highlight the positive impact of early ART and low HIV reservoirs on time to rebound among people undergoing analytical treatment interruption and provides new insight into therapeutic interventions aimed at achieving virologic control.