The US National Institutes of Health and Pharmaceutical company Sanofi, Engineer a "Tri-Specific Antibody" to Attack HIV Strains
Orange County, CA - Septmber 25th 2017 - In collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health and the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, scientists have engineered an antibody that attacks 99 percent of HIV strains and can prevent infection in primates. The antibody was engineered to attack three parts of the virus, making it harder for HIV to resist attacks.
Though promising in prevenient trials, human trials won’t begin until 2018 to see if the same results in prevention and treatment are replicable. Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, the president of the International Aids Society, told the BBC that these findings are an “exciting breakthrough.” Humans struggle to fight off HIV due to the virus’ ability to mutate its appearance often resembling something close to influenza. The immune system tries to fight against an innumerable number of besieging strains, ultimately unable to win.
Researchers have recently studied HIV positive patients, whom after years of infection, began developing powerful weapons called “broadly neutralizing antibodies” that would attack fundamental properties of HIV and can kill off large swathes of strains. Since this discovery, researchers have been attempting to use broadly neutralizing antibodies as a form of HIV treatment, as well as a prevention method to the infection.
The study, published in the journal Science, combines three of these antibodies into an even more powerful “tri-specific antibody.” Dr Gary Nabel, the chief scientific officer at Sanofi and one of the report’s authors, told BBC News’ website, "They are more potent and have greater breadth than any single naturally occurring antibody that's been discovered." At present, the best naturally occurring antibodies will target 90 percent of HIV strains. "We're getting 99 percent coverage, and getting coverage at very low concentrations of the antibody," said Dr Nabel.
In primate tests, 24 monkeys were given the tri-specific antibody. When later injected with the HIV virus, none of the 24 monkeys developed an infection. In observing these findings Dr. Nabel went on to state, “It was quite an impressive degree of protection.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also commented on the fascinating approach, saying "Combinations of antibodies that each bind to a distinct site on HIV may best overcome the defenses of the virus in the effort to achieve effective antibody-based treatment and prevention."
As for the antibodies’ effectiveness in the proceeding human trials only time will tell, however all previous indications point to the likely success of this progressive HIV treatment in the years to come.
Contact Ampronix:
Email: info@ampronix.com
International Sales: +1 949-273-8000
Domestic Sales: 1800-400-7972 for US and Canada
Follow Us:
Share This Article:
View our Product Catalog Online Here
About Ampronix
Ampronix is a renowned authorized master distributor of the medical industry's top brands as well as a world class manufacturer of innovative technology. Since 1982, Ampronix has been dedicated to meeting the growing needs of the medical community with its extensive product knowledge, outstanding service, and state-of-the-art repair facility. Ampronix prides itself on its ability to offer tailored, one-stop solutions at a faster and more cost effective rate than other manufacturers. Ampronix is an ISO & ANSI/ESD certified facility. To learn more go here.
The US National Institutes of Health and Pharmaceutical company Sanofi, Engineer a “Tri-Specific Antibody” to Attack HIV Strains Orange County, CA – Septmber 25th 2017 – In collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health and the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, scientists have engineered an antibody that attacks 99 percent of HIV strains and can prevent infection in […]