Reduction of circulating HIV antigens in seropositive patients after treatment with AL-721

Sixteen patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at different stages participated in an open trial using the lipid mixture AL-721. Seven patients were antigen negative and asymptomatic and the other nine antigen positive, three of whom were virtually asymptomatic. AL-721 was given per os once a day at a dose of 10 g in a fat-free breakfast for up to 16 months. The presence of HIV antigens in the serum was monitored by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using two commercial kits. In five of the nine antigen-positive patients the concentration of HIV antigens was reduced to basal level after about 3 months of AL-721 treatment; three of these responders were asymptomatic, one had persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, and the other had Kaposi's sarcoma. In one of the antigen-positive patients who did not respond to AL-721, the addition of AZT to the treatment resulted in a marked decrease in antigen level. Another AIDS patient receiving this combination therapy from onset of the trial showed a similar decrease. The other two nonresponding patients were at a stage of full-blown AIDS. These results suggest that AL-721, an innocuous compound, may be effective in reducing the serum HIV level in patients at the preclinical stage.