Study under way to combat HIV with antibodies

New York: Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, in the US have launched a clinical trial to determine whether infusing an experimental antibody into
HIV-negative men and transgender individuals will prevent the deadly HIV infection from developing.

The study, known as the Antibody Meditated Prevention (AMP) is done by Rutger University's New Jersey Medical School's Clinical Research Center (NJMS-CRC) in the US. "It is the first study of this magnitude to see whether an antibody infusion can help prevent new HIV infections. If it proves effective, it could potentially pave a way for developing a vaccine for HIV infection,"  said Shobha
Swaminathan, an infectious disease specialist and the NJMS-CRC site leader.

Antibodies are one of the natural ways the human body fights infection. The antibody being studied was initially detected in an individual who was able to successfully control HIV infection without taking any medications for HIV.
At the current time, HIV infections can be treated with many medications but only one medication is available to prevent new infections, and it is not always effective due to noncompliance and other issues, Swaminathan said.
HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, though the rate of infection has fallen significantly in recent years.

Beyond indicating whether the antibody VRC01 is likely to prevent HIV infection, the study also will have an important ancillary result, she said. Enrollment activities will provide opportunities for high-risk individuals who have not been tested before to both get tested for HIV and also be educated about risk reduction strategies.

"The study is providing ways for Rutgers to effectively partner with and engage the community effectively to ensure a positive impact that will last long after the study is completed," Swaminathan said. AMP study sites are recruiting a combined 2,700 HIV-negative men and transgender individuals whose sexual
partners are men, the highest-risk demographic for HIV infection, to test the efficacy of VRC01.

Those enrolled will either be given intravenous infusions of VRC01 or a placebo every eight weeks for a total of 10 infusions. Participants will be closely monitored for approximately 22 months for safety and also to determine whether they've remained HIV-negative.