Can an arthritis drug help clear HIV from the brain?
NCT ID NCT05452564
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tests whether baricitinib, an FDA-approved arthritis drug, can reduce the amount of HIV hiding in the central nervous system. 95 people with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy will receive either baricitinib or a placebo for 10 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in HIV DNA and RNA in spinal fluid, along with brain scans and thinking tests.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Baricitinib (an oral tablet used for rheumatoid arthritis, being tested to reduce HIV in the brain)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that baricitinib helps control HIV in the brain, potentially reducing long-term brain complications and moving toward a future cure.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 2 trial with only 95 people. It may not show a clear benefit, and baricitinib can have side effects like increased infection risk. Success in the brain does not mean a cure.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Emory University Hospital
RECRUITINGAtlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
-
Grady Memorial Hospital
RECRUITINGAtlanta, Georgia, 30303, United States
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