Triple therapy prevents persistent HIV in infant macaques

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and other institutions have developed a triple therapy that successfully prevented persistent HIV infection in infant macaques. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, utilized a combination of standard antiretroviral therapy, broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the viral envelope, and the experimental monoclonal antibody leronlimab, which blocks the CCR5 co-receptor.

While individual treatments or simpler combinations failed to prevent the infection from becoming established, this three-part approach effectively blocked the virus from creating a latent reservoir in the host. This is a critical hurdle in HIV treatment, as once the virus integrates into the host's DNA, it becomes nearly impossible for traditional drugs to detect or eliminate.

Although the findings are currently in the preclinical stage and require human clinical trials, the results offer a potential path toward a one-time intervention for newborns. Researchers noted that the next steps involve testing the efficacy of this regimen in humans, potentially starting with adults who have been recently exposed to the virus.