Active Research

Relevance: People who inject drugs remain at high risk for HIV due to a range of structural and social barriers, including stigma, limited healthcare access, and challenges with daily medication adherence. Traditional PrEP options may not meet the needs of this population, underscoring the importance of exploring new approaches to HIV prevention that are more accessible, discreet, and flexible.

Description: HPTN 103/Purpose 4 is a research study testing Lenacapavir, an injectable PrEP option given twice a year, to see if it can help prevent HIV in people who inject drugs. The goal is to understand whether this long-acting approach can reduce HIV risk by removing some of the daily barriers associated with oral PrEP. This study is part of the larger Purpose PrEP program and is being conducted at the UCLA Vine Street Clinic. 

Status: We are currently enrolling. Please call us at 323-461-3106 for additional information or visit our sign up page. 

Relevance: People who benefit from HIV and STI prevention options, such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), now have a choice of several biomedical prevention tools. However, PrEP uptake remains is lowest in groups experiencing a disproportionate impact of HIV, including Latino/e/x MSM and youth. More tools are needed to improve uptake and adherence of PrEP in this population. 

Description: This is a multi-site, two part study. Part one (HPTN 113-01), includes focus groups where participants will engage in discussions to review mobile health tools and handouts (known collectively as the 3P mHealth package) that will be utlizied in the main study. Part two, (HPTN 113), is an individual-level randomized, open-label trial with participants assigned to receive either the 3P mHealth package or a PrEP education control. Participants will also be provided their choice of HIV PrEP agents/regimens and doxy-PEP for bacterial STI prevention. 

Status:This study is currently on hold. 

Relevance: There are currently no medications available for treating methamphetamine use disorder, highlighting a major gap in addiction medicine. This study aims to confirm the efficacy of naltrexone plus bupropion as a combination medication therapy to treat individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). This combination was shown effective in previous trials, including the much lauded ADAPT-2 study, the results of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021. Successful results could bring us closer to an approval of a medication for this serious condition.

Description: The primary objective of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of extended release naltrexone plus bupropion compared to matched injectable and oral placebo in reducing methamphetamine (MA) use in individuals with moderate or severe methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) seeking to stop or reduce MA use. Individuals with moderate or severe MUD will be randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive either 1) extended-release naltrexone plus once daily oral extended-release bupropion tablets or 2) both the matching injection placebo and once daily oral placebo tablets. Participants will have visits twice weekly during the 12 week treatment phase and complete post treatment follow-up visits in weeks 14 and 16. 

Status: We are currently enrolling. Please call us at 323-461-3106 for additional information or visit our sign up page. 

Description: Twice a year injections of the medication Lenacapavir have the potential to provide an additional option for populations at risk of HIV acquisition. Lenacapavir can help address substantial existing PrEP barriers including requirements for daily adherence, stigma and concerns about disclosure and discrimination or other social harms, oral medication-associated adverse events, and challenges with access to health care providers in overburdened health systems or in geographical PrEP deserts. Thus, it has the potential to increase the uptake of, adherence to, and thereby the scalability of PrEP in those populations most disproportionately affected by HIV, which will contribute to the overarching goal of ending the epidemic. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Lenacapavir in preventing the risk of HIV infection.

Status: This study is no longer enrolling new participants. 

Relevance: Cocaine is one of the most commonly abused stimulants globally, and in the US, there are signs of a resurgence of cocaine use. A variety of pharmacotherapies for cocaine use disorder (CUD) has been explored but so far, no study has findings robust enough to warrant FDA approval. Recent research suggests that a kappa opioid receptor antagonist can curb the negative emotional states associated with stimulant withdrawal that leads to increased craving and drug-seeking behaviors.

Description: This protocol builds up on results of the Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine (CURB) study. It aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined monthly injections of XR-NTX and injectable BUP for CUD compared to placebo.

Status: This study is no longer enrolling new participants. 

Relevance: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic and relapsing condition with serious health consequences, including liver disease, cardiovascular complications, mental health comorbidities, and increased mortality. The burden of AUD is particularly pronounced among individuals with overweight or obesity, who may face compounded health risks and unique treatment challenges. Despite the significant public health impact, current pharmacologic options for AUD remain limited in both efficacy and tolerability.

Description: The RECLAIM study is a Phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pemvidutide, a novel GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist, in adults with AUD who are also overweight or obese. Pemvidutide was originally developed to support weight management and metabolic health. Due to its mechanism of action—impacting appetite regulation, energy metabolism, and potentially reward pathways—Pemvidutide is now being studied for its potential to reduce alcohol consumption as well.

Status: We are currently enrolling. If you are interested in participating, please contact the UCLA Vine Street Clinic at 323-461-3106. 

According to a 1992 study published in the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, using a condom makes sex 10,000 times safer than not using a condom. The UCLA Vine Street Clinic has partnered with LA County to provide free condoms to the public. For more information, visit http://lacondom.com/find-free-condoms/