Can a cancer drug help flush out hidden HIV?

NCT ID NCT05187429

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University of Melbourne Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study is testing whether a single low dose of nivolumab, a drug used in cancer immunotherapy, can reduce the latent HIV reservoir in people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The latent reservoir is a group of dormant HIV-infected cells that current treatments cannot eliminate, forcing lifelong ART. The trial enrolls 42 adults with well-controlled HIV and will first test safety, then randomly assign some participants to receive nivolumab or a placebo to measure effects on the reservoir.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: nivolumab (Opdivo)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a way to reduce the hidden HIV reservoir, potentially allowing people with HIV to stop antiretroviral therapy without the virus rebounding.
What could go wrong: This is an early Phase 1/2 trial with only 42 participants, so results are preliminary. Nivolumab can cause immune-related side effects, and it is unknown if a single low dose will have any lasting effect on the reservoir.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

HIV infectious disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HIV I INFECTION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Alfred Hospital - Department of Infecious Diseases
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3181, Australia
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
RECRUITING

Singapore, 308433, Singapore

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