Could a common antibiotic cut deaths in advanced HIV?

NCT ID NCT05580666

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Population Health Research Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether taking the antibiotic azithromycin can reduce deaths in adults with advanced HIV. Researchers will give either azithromycin or a placebo to 8,000 participants and track who dies over 24 weeks. The goal is to see if this simple, cheap drug can save lives in this high-risk group.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Azithromycin (an antibiotic)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to reduce early deaths in people with advanced HIV.
What could go wrong: This is a large phase 3 trial, but azithromycin is an antibiotic, not an antiviral, so it may not reduce HIV-related deaths. Risks include antibiotic resistance and side effects like stomach upset.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

AIDS

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HIV DISEASE PROGRESSION

Contacts and locations

Locations

34 Military Hospital
RECRUITING

Freetown, Sierra Leone
Adama Hospital Medical College
RECRUITING

Ādama, Ethiopia
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- Hluhluwe Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Hluhluwe, South Africa
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- KwaMsane Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Mtubatuba, South Africa
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- Mpukunyoni Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Mtubatuba, South Africa
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- Mtubatuba Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Mtubatuba, South Africa
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- Nkundusi Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Hlabisa, South Africa
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)- Somkhele Clinic
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Mtubatuba, South Africa
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Kano, Nigeria
Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital
RECRUITING

Āsela, Ethiopia
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Kigali, Rwanda
Centre Intégré de Recherches Biocliniques d'Abidjan (CIRBA)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Centre médical de suivi des donneurs de sang (CMSDS)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone
RECRUITING

Freetown, Sierra Leone
Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Cape Town, South Africa
Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Maputo, Mozambique
Federal Medical Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Umuahia, Nigeria
Groote Schuur Hospital -New main building, Infectious Disease Clinic G26
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Cape Town, South Africa
Jimma University Hospital
RECRUITING

Jimma, Ethiopia
Jos University Teaching Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Jos, Nigeria
Kenema Regional Hospital
RECRUITING

Kenema, Sierra Leone
Koidu Government Hospital
RECRUITING

Koidu, Sierra Leone
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Kumasi, Ghana
Kumasi South Hospital
RECRUITING

Kumasi, Ghana
Lagos University Teaching Hospital
RECRUITING

Lago, Nigeria
Lilongwe Medical Relief Fund/UNC Project
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lilongwe, Malawi
Livingstone hospital
RECRUITING

Port Elizabeth, South Africa
MUJHU
RECRUITING

Kampala, Uganda
Makeni Regional Hospital
RECRUITING

Makeni, Sierra Leone
Mbarara Regional Referral hospital
RECRUITING

Mbarara, Uganda
New Somerset Hospital
RECRUITING

Cape Town, South Africa
Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Yenagoa, Nigeria
Right to Care NPC, Esizayo Division
COMPLETED

Randburg, South Africa
SICRA Kampala
RECRUITING

Kampala, Uganda
SICRA Lira
RECRUITING

Lira, Uganda
Steve Biko Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria
RECRUITING

Pretoria, South Africa
Suntreso Government Hospital
RECRUITING

Kumasi, Ghana
The Aurum Institute
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Klerksdorp, South Africa
The Aurum Institute
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Rustenburg, South Africa
The Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)- George Clinical Research Site
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lusaka, Zambia
The Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)- Matero Clinical Research Site
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lusaka, Zambia
The Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)-Chawama Clinical Research Site (CRS)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lusaka, Zambia
Tigray health research institute (THRI)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Mek'ele, Ethiopia
Ubuntu Clinic, Site B, Khayelitsha, Wellcome Centre
RECRUITING

Cape Town, South Africa
Unité de Soins Ambulatoires et de conseils (USAC)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
University College Hospital
RECRUITING

Ibadan, Nigeria
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Abuja, Nigeria
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Calabar, Nigeria
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
RECRUITING

Enugu, Nigeria
University of Uyo Teaching Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Uyo, Nigeria
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hos
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Sokoto, Nigeria
Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd
RECRUITING

Johannesburg, South Africa

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