Value Proposition
· Target associated with viral load reduction identified from a large pool of study participants who had low level viremia
· Potential to reduce disease severity in at-risk populations
· Proactive approach to lower viral load in individuals who could become infected
Unmet Need
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impacts millions worldwide and still has no cure. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is able to drive viremic load to undetectable levels, but requires continuous adherence and care, which may be especially difficult in low-resource situations. ART can be further compromised by drug stock-outs, and the burden of continuous viral load monitoring. Although other approaches are under investigation to treat HIV, they have yet to succeed in human trials. Therefore, there is a strong need for a novel, proactive approach to help reduce HIV viral load in those who cannot access HIV treatment or have other barriers to obtaining durable viral suppression on ART. Reduction in community viral load would also reduce the risk of ongoing HIV transmission and HIV incidence.
Technology Description
Some persons living with HIV are able to control HIV viral load to low levels in the absence of ART (HIV controllers). Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a unique epitope that is targeted by antibodies in some persons prior to infection. Presence of pre-infection antibodies to this epitope are associated with HIV controller status and lower HIV viral load following infection. Immunization against this epitope or similar immunologic targets in uninfected persons could potentially lower HIV viral load in those who become infected, reducing disease severity and risk of on-going HIV transmission.
Stage of Development
This technology is in the discovery stage and researchers are pursuing further work to characterize HIV epitopes associated with controller status and viral load reduction.
Data Availability: Data available upon request.
Publication
· Grant-McAuley et al. Comprehensive profiling of pre-infection antibodies identifies HIV targets associated with viremic control and viral load. Frontiers in Immunology. 2023; 14:1178520. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1178520.
