Results from two Antibody -Mediated Prevention (AMP) studies presented at the 4th HIV Research for Prevention conference (HIVR4P virtual ), Wednesday, revealed that that infusions of antibodies can prevent HIV infection.
An antibody is a protective blood protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. Antibodies identify and latch onto antigens in order to remove them from the body.
The studies conducted jointly by the NIH -funded HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) showed that the broadly neutralizing monoclonal HIV antibody (bNAb) VRC01, delivered intravenously once every eight weeks, was effective at preventing the acquisition of HIV strains that were sensitive to the antibody.
This was assessed by a laboratory test that measures a virus’ susceptibility to neutralization by an antibody.
Announcing the results during a press conference prior to the opening session of the meeting , Larry Corey, AMP Protocol Chair and Principal Investigator, HVTN Leadership Operations Center, based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said the two proof-of-concept AMP studies demonstrated the concept that bnAb could actually prevent the acquisition of HIV infection.He said, “The AMP trials were designed to determine whether long-term administration of a bnAb could reduce HIV acquisition, if susceptibility of circulating viruses in the community to the bnAb would influence prevention efficacy, and if measuring this susceptibility would be a biomarker of prevention efficacy. All three of these questions were answered by these two trials.” (DailyTrust)