Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discovered that a single infusion of VRC01, a powerful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, can suppress HIV levels in the blood of infected patients that are not undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), as outlined in a press release.
Additionally, the researchers found that injecting HIV-infected people with VRC01 either intravenously or subcutaneously is a safe and well tolerated procedure, and antibody levels remain in the blood for an extended period of time, giving it great potential for treatment of the virus.
The NIAID conducted the Phase 1 clinical trial using 23 HIV-infected subjects - 15 were taking ART and eight were not. Those on ART received two VRC01 infusions with 28 days between each one and those not on ART only received one antibody infusion. During this period of time, the scientists determined the safety of the infusions and their ability to reduce HIV levels in blood plasma and blood cells.
The results found that although antibody infusions did not reduce HIV levels in blood cells, they reduced the levels of HIV in the blood plasma - plasma viral load reduced tenfold in six of the eight patients who were not on ART.
The two subjects who entered the trial with the lowest levels of the virus experienced an HIV suppression to extremely low levels for around three weeks, contingent on the fact that VRC01 was present in their blood at therapeutic concentrations. In the other four patients HIV levels declined substantially, although they did not reach undetectable levels. Furthermore, the antibody had no effect on people taking ART, although this is likely to due to the fact that this therapy already suppresses the virus.
Future studies will continue to examine the effectiveness of VRC01 for treating HIV and its use as an alternative to ART.
The findings were published in the latest issue of Science Translational Medicine.
