A Phase 3 interventional study of Dolutegravir (DTG) and Abacavir (ABC) in HIV Infection, sponsored by University College, London. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 4 Weeks to 14 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-28.
Sponsored by University College, London · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of the CHAPAS-5 clinical trial is to find out how well different HIV treatments work in children and young people (from 4 weeks up to under 15 years old) living with HIV, including those starting treatment for the first time and those whose current treatment is not working well.
The study aims to learn whether newer or different combinations of medicines can better control the virus, be safer, and be easier to take.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare different treatment groups to see if some medicines work better than others. Participants will be given one of several HIV treatment combinations (all already used in care), and these will be compared to see if they lead to:
Participants will:
At these visits, they will:
Answer simple questionnaires about:
Some participants may also take part in optional extra studies (for example, to understand how the drugs work in the body).
Overall, this study aims to identify the best HIV treatments for children and young people, so future care can be more effective, safer, and easier to follow.
CHAPAS-5 is a study organised by an international group of researchers from the United Kingdom, Uganda, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Italy and the Netherlands.
Background HIV is a virus that attacks the cells that help the body fight infection. This means that a person living with HIV may be more likely to become ill as they are not able to fight off other infections and cope with other illnesses. HIV is usually treated by taking three or four different medicines. Some of these medicines can be combined into one tablet. Depending on the medicines used, tablets may need to be taken either once or twice every day. The medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The goal of HIV treatment is to make sure the HIV virus in the blood remains very low; this is called virological suppression. If this goal is achieved and sustained life-long, then people with HIV infection can live a healthy life, with a normal life expectancy. Adults living with HIV have many treatment options. This means that they can change treatments more easily if they get side-effects or if a treatment stops working.
Children and adolescents living with HIV have fewer available treatments than adults and only limited alternatives if they develop side-effects or if their current treatment stops working. As HIV treatment needs to be life-long for a person to live a long, healthy and productive life, it is really important that better treatment options are made available to children and adolescents.
A clinical trial is a study that compares different treatments to find out which works best. Traditional trials usually compare only two treatments at a time. CHAPAS-5 uses a newer trial design that can compare several treatments at the same time in two different groups of children. It will test three treatment options for children and adolescents starting ART for the first time (ART-naïve), and four options for those already on ART whose current treatment is not working well (ART-experienced).
Which treatments are being compared?
Additional treatments, such as long-acting injectables, may be added to the trial as they become available. These could remove the need for daily pills and help improve adherence.
Who can join the trial? CHAPAS-5 will enrol participants in Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
The study includes children and adolescents aged at least 4 weeks to less than 15 years and weighing 3 to less than 30kg who:
What will be measured?
Participants are followed for at least 48 weeks.
Novel design CHAPAS-5 uses a novel design called the Personalised Randomised Controlled Trial (PRACTical) design. This means that each participant will be randomly allocated to receive a treatment from a list which contains only the treatment options that are appropriate for them. The treatments will be ranked from best performing to worst performing based on how well they work for participants. This will researchers to identify which treatments work best for different groups of children.
Why this trial matters? CHAPAS-5 aims to identify the best treatments for children that work well and are easy to take, with fewer side effects. The trial will also evaluate point-of-care CD4 testing to speed up diagnosis and treatment for children with advanced HIV disease and assess targeted resistance testing to identify those who may need to change treatment.
Broader Implications CHAPAS-5 not only tests different treatment options but aims to speed up the testing of HIV treatments for children so that better options can become available more quickly. The trial findings will help inform national and international guidelines and country treatment policies. This could improve future HIV treatment options for children and adolescents living with HIV.
Willing to adhere to a minimum of 48 weeks' follow-up
ART-NAÏVE
ART-EXPERIENCED
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Concurrent participation in another clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (IMP), medical device or other intervention.
ART Naïve participants receiving dolutegravir, abacavir, lamivudine
Drug: Dolutegravir (DTG) · Drug: Abacavir (ABC) · Drug: Lamivudine (3TC)
ART Naïve participants receiving dolutegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine
Drug: Dolutegravir (DTG) · Drug: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) · Drug: Emtricitabine (FTC)
ART Naïve participants receiving dolutegravir, lamivudine
Drug: Dolutegravir (DTG) · Drug: Lamivudine (3TC)
ART Experienced participants receiving dolutegravir, abacavir, lamivudine
Drug: Dolutegravir (DTG) · Drug: Abacavir (ABC) · Drug: Lamivudine (3TC)
ART Experienced participants receiving dolutegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine
Drug: Dolutegravir (DTG) · Drug: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) · Drug: Emtricitabine (FTC)
ART Experienced participants receiving darunavir, ritonavir, abacavir, lamivudine
Drug: Abacavir (ABC) · Drug: Lamivudine (3TC) · Drug: Darunavir (DRV) · Drug: Ritonavir (RTV)
ART Experienced participants receiving darunavir, ritonavir, tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine
Drug: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) · Drug: Emtricitabine (FTC) · Drug: Darunavir (DRV) · Drug: Ritonavir (RTV)
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
Dosage will be by weight band. Adult and paediatric, and single dose/fixed dose combination tablets will be used depending on availability in country and the weight band of the child.
The proportion of participants alive with HIV VL <400 c/mL at 48 weeks
For participants with an initial week 48 VL ≥400 copies/mL, a repeat VL is required, and the repeat value will be used for outcome classification.
Time frame: Week 48
The proportion of participants alive with HIV VL<1000 c/mL at 48 weeks
For participants with an initial week 48 VL ≥400 copies/mL, a repeat VL is required, and the repeat value will be used for outcome classification.
Time frame: Week 48
The proportion of participants with cross-sectional HIV VL ≥50 copies/mL, ≥400 copies/mL, and ≥1000 copies/mL at 48 weeks
Using the single VL measurement closest to the week 48 timepoint within the analysis window (will include blips and confirmed measures).
Time frame: Week 48
The proportion of participants with emergent drug resistance by 48 weeks
Time frame: Week 48
Time to first serious adverse events (SAEs), grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) and ART-modifying events of any grade
Time frame: From randomisation to the last study visit (minimum of 48 weeks)
Time to first new or recurrent WHO 3/4 events, or death
Time frame: From randomisation to the last study visit (minimum of 48 weeks)
Change in CD4 count and CD4 percentage from baseline to week 48
Time frame: From baseline to week 48
Change in weight and BMI-for-age from baseline to week 48
Time frame: From baseline to week 48
Adherence and acceptability
Participant or parent/carer reported adherence to trial medications via a short series of questions (Adherence Questionnaire). Participant or parent/carer reported acceptability of trial medications using the Paediatric Oral Medicine Acceptability Questionnaire (POMAQ).
Time frame: From baseline to last study visit (minimum 48 weeks)
Depression, anxiety, suicidality and sleep
Participant or parent/carer reported depression, anxiety and sleep using a trial-specific Mood and Sleep questionnaire. Participant or parent/carer reported suicidality at screening using the C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale) Screener questionnaire.
Time frame: From baseline to last study visit (minimum 48 weeks)
Quality of Life using EQ-5D-Y-5L
Participant and parent/carer reports of health-related quality-of-life using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire. This questionnaire includes a scale of 0-100 where a higher score means a better outcome.
Time frame: From baseline to last study visit (minimum 48 weeks)
No study locations are listed for this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University College, London