Danish researchers are taking an important step in the search for a cure for HIV

Danish researchers are taking an important step in the search for a cure for HIV

Scientists around the world have been trying unsuccessfully to find a cure for HIV for around 40 years, but now a team of researchers from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital have apparently found an important element in the equation.

That's what Dr. Ole Schmeltz Søgaard, professor of translational virus research at Aarhus University and lead author of an innovative study just published in the journal Nature Medicine.

This study is one of the first in humans in which we have shown a way to strengthen the body's ability to fight HIV - even when today's standard treatment is paused. We therefore view the study as an important step towards a cure.”

Dr. Ole Schmeltz Søgaard, Professor of Translational Virus Research, Aarhus University

The study was carried out in close collaboration with researchers from the UK, USA, Spain and Canada.

Virus in hiding

Although it has not yet been possible to find a cure or a protective vaccine against HIV, today's standard treatment is very effective in keeping the disease at bay.

Today, people with HIV are offered a so-called antiretroviral therapy, which suppresses the amount of virus in the blood and partially restores the immune system.

However, if standard treatment is stopped, the amount of virus in the blood rises within weeks to the same level as before standard treatment began - regardless of whether the patient has been on treatment for 10 or 20 years.

HIV hides in the genome of some of the body's own immune cells, and it is precisely these cells that are targeted by the intervention as part of the Danish-led research project.

In the study, researchers examined the effects of two types of experimental drugs on people recently diagnosed with HIV.

Antibodies restore immunity

Study participants from Denmark and the United Kingdom were randomized into four groups, all of which received standard treatment. Some of them also received the drug romidepsin, which was intended to prevent the virus from hiding in the body's immune cells, while others received monoclonal antibodies against HIV, which may eliminate the infected cells and strengthen the immune system. One group received standard treatment without experimental drugs, while the final group received a combination of standard treatment and both types of experimental drugs.

The results of the study are very encouraging, says Dr. Jesper Damsgaard Gunst from Aarhus University Hospital – lead author and another driving force behind the study.

"Our study shows that people newly diagnosed with HIV who are given monoclonal antibodies along with their usual HIV medication show a faster decline in the amount of virus after starting treatment and can develop better immunity to HIV and partially or completely suppress their immune system." the virus when they take a break from their usual HIV medicine,” he explains.

First successful clinical trial

The theory behind the experiment is that the monoclonal antibodies help the immune system recognize and kill the infected cells.

In addition, the antibodies also bind in large complexes to viruses that reach the lymph nodes and, among other things, stimulate the ability of certain immune cells to develop immunity against HIV. In this way, the body may be able to control the spread of the virus and “protect” itself from the damage caused by HIV infection.

Previous clinical trials of experimental drugs have shown no significant effects on people's immunity to HIV or the immune system's ability to suppress the infection when standard treatment is interrupted.

The treatment needs to be optimized

Despite the remarkable results, there is still a long way to go before a cure for HIV, emphasizes Dr. Sogaard.

First, researchers need to find a way to optimize the treatment and increase its effect.

The Danish study has already attracted widespread attention abroad and increased interest in experimental studies on people with newly diagnosed HIV infection.

Among other things, the US Department of Health and Human Services recently allocated a large pool of money for research in this area.

In addition, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a large research network have taken the initiative to conduct a follow-up study to the Danish study in Africa.

Dr. Søgaard's research group is working on a large study to be carried out across Europe to optimize the new experimental treatment.

"We speculate that the optimized treatment will have an even greater effect on both the virus and the participants' immunity. We hope that we can improve the immune system's ability to permanently suppress the remaining virus."

Source:

Aarhus University

Reference:

Gunst, JD, et al. (2022) Early intervention with 3BNC117 and romidepsin at the initiation of antiretroviral treatment in people with HIV-1: a randomized phase 1b/2a trial. Natural medicine. doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02023-7.

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