Safety and Efficacy Study of Etanercept (Enbrel) on the Response Rate of HIV-infected Subjects

The purpose of conducting this already-FDA approved Phase I clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of etanercept (Enbrel) on the response rate in HIV-infected subjects who have failed to respond to conventional antiretroviral (HAART) therapy and for whom no alternative therapy exists. The greatest challenge faced by HIV-treating clinicians today is the management of virologic failure and metabolic complications of anti-HIV treatment. Treatment failure can occur because of non-compliance, drug discontinuation, lack of drug potency, inadequate drug plasma concentration or drug resistance. Of these, drug resistance remains the single most important reason for virological failure and rapidly limits treatment options.