Many people living with HIV develop mild cognitive impairment and mood problems known as HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). The activation of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor may be a feasible strategy to treat this disorder, but associated psychoactive side effects restrict their potential.
The 2024 meeting of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which is being held in Munich this week, began with the announcement of another curative bone marrow transplant. The new case brings the total number of patients cured of HIV via a bone marrow transplant up to 7 since “Berlin patient” Timothy Ray Brown became the first such person in 2007.
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute and the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center are developing a novel experimental vaccine targeting the germline to stimulate precursor B cells and produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the gp41 protein found in the HIV-1 envelope.
In a paper published in the May 17, 2024, online issue of Cell, investigators from the Duke Human Vaccine Institute reported that a sequence of three immunizations in the HVTN-133 trial was sufficient for the development of heterologous or broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that protected against several strains of HIV. The findings are “a real beachhead,” Barton Haynes told BioWorld. Haynes is the director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and the senior author of the paper.
Nanite Inc. has been awarded a $1.8 million grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to design and optimize polymeric delivery vehicles to deliver DNA-encoded therapeutics.
Novel HIV-1 vaccine strategies should elicit potent and broad immunity against the viral envelope (Env) glycoprotein. Particle presentation of Env has shown promise in animal studies, but has several problems that limit their clinical application.
Gilead Sciences Inc. has patented 4'-Thionucleoside analogues acting as viral replication inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of HIV infection.
Scientists at Jisikai (Suzhou) Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Yaopharma Co. Ltd. have disclosed polycyclic N-heterocyclic ketone compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of HIV infection.
The autophagy process, a critical regulator of T-cell function, has been shown to control acute HIV-1 infection and play a crucial role also in HIV-1 disease pathogenesis.
Researchers from Viiv Healthcare Ltd. presented preclinical data for the next-generation maturation inhibitor (MI) VH-3739937 (VH-937, zegruvirimat), currently in clinical testing for the treatment of HIV.