Triple-dose regimen may permanently clear HIV in infected newborns
Every year, more than 120,000 newborns worldwide contract HIV, creating a global health burden that requires lifelong treatment for millions of people—assuming they have access and can afford it. New research led by Oregon Health & Science University suggests another possibility: a one-time regimen of therapies given to newborns within three days of birth to permanently clear the virus. The…
Newborns infected with HIV could potentially be cured with a single treatment regimen given shortly after birth, according to research led by Oregon Health & Science University. The study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, suggests this one-time approach could eliminate the virus permanently in infants, rather than requiring lifelong treatment.
Oregon Health & Science University researchers tested three distinct treatments in newborn nonhuman primates within three days of infection. These included neutralizing antibodies, standard antiretroviral therapy, and an experimental monoclonal antibody called leronlimab. While each therapy alone had previously failed to permanently clear HIV, the combination proved effective.
Lead author Jonah Sacha, professor and chief of pathobiology and immunology at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center, expressed excitement at the results. "It's one of those things where you test it and, holy cow, it works and you've discovered something new," he said. Co-author Nancy Haigwood, a virologist and immunologist, called the outcome "astounding and overjoyed."
The researchers believe the success stems from leronlimab's ability to block HIV from entering immune cells through the surface protein CCR5. This effectively removes one of the virus's primary entry points, limiting its ability to infect cells. The combination appears to be especially potent during the early stages of infection.
While the study demonstrates promising results in nonhuman primates, more work is needed to translate the findings to humans. The next steps involve testing the three-part regimen in clinical trials, most likely starting with newly exposed adults. Researchers are also eager to determine whether the treatment can remain effective beyond the initial three-day window.
The discovery offers hope in the ongoing fight against HIV, which continues to claim 600,000 lives worldwide each year. However, further research is required to confirm the approach's safety and efficacy in humans.
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