FDA gives approval for human trial of potential HIV cure

NIAID scientists studying the human immune response to HIV
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a human trial of a new treatment for HIV.

Currently, antiretroviral drugs are the most effective treatment for the virus. If HIV positive people take the medication, they can expect to live a normal lifespan.

However, although the drugs are effective in reducing viral load, if you stop taking them, the virus can replicate and wreak damage. Individuals can also sometimes develop resistance to the medication or experience side effects.

Related: Scientists can’t find any trace of HIV in man potentially “cured” via medication alone

The new trial will test a gene therapy developed by biotech firm American Gene Technologies (AGT), based in Rockville, Maryland.

Its HIV gene therapy is known as AGT103-T. It involves removing some white blood cells from an HIV-positive patient, then inserting a gene that modifies the T-cells. This enables the cells to stop HIV replication.

The HIV-resistant CD4 T-cells are then infused back into the patient, where they can duplicate and fight HIV. A more-detailed, peer-reviewed paper on AGT103-T appeared in June in the journal, Molecular Therapy.

Jeff Galvin, founder and chief executive officer of AGT, said in a statement, “I am confident AGT103-T will be an important step towards an eventual cure for HIV.”

The company’s chief science officer, David Pauza, added, “This is momentous news….

Read full story, and more, from Source: FDA gives approval for human trial of potential HIV cure

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today