Researchers in Melbourne to trial experimental new HIV treatments

Researchers in Melbourne have been granted permission to conduct two new trials of HIV experimental therapy. According to the the team, the results of the research called ‘NIVO-LD’ and ‘Titan’, maybe bring us “one step closer to the cure for HIV”, reports the Star Observer. 

“The medicines used in these studies are of great interest to researchers around the world,” said Associate Professor James McMahon, Head of Clinical Research at Alfred’s Infectious Diseases Department.

Step One - a cancer drug

The first trial involves the use of nivolumab, a drug that is currently used to treat certain types of cancer. 

NIVO-LD will study the effectiveness of nivolumab with regards to its impact on the immune system’s response to HIV - whether or not that drug “awakens” the immune system to fight HIV, similar to how it’s used to treat cancer.

According to McMahon, the trial will examine whether nivolumab can reduce HIV levels in people who have previously received conventional antiretroviral therapy (ART) or whether the drug can "manipulate the immune system in any way to control HIV".

In the first phase of this study, 18 people living with HIV will receive one of three different doses of nivolumab. They will be monitored for five weeks to check whether the drug can help control HIV without ART.

"Nivolumab is widely used to treat many types of cancer, including melanoma and lung cancer, and studies have also been conducted in which HIV patients with cancer have also participated. But since the drug has not been studied on people living with HIV who do not have cancer, we plan to administer a single low dose of nivolumab in this trial, rather than multiple higher doses used to treat cancer," explained McMahon.

Step Two - Formation of antibodies to HIV

The second stage is a global study to be conducted by scientists from Melbourne and Denmark. In this eight-week trial, experts will examine the effectiveness of a combination of immunostimulating lephytolimode and two HIV antibodies (3BNC117 and 10-1074).

"We are not fully confident that this scheme will help cure HIV, but it is a very important study in the search for a universal drug. At this stage, it is important for us to understand whether our scheme or similar drugs can enhance the immune system's response to HIV. If this theory is confirmed and the drug is well tolerated by patients, it can become an important part of HIV treatment strategies," said McMahon.

Scientists haven’t stopped looking for new ways to treat HIV. Modern developments give great hope that HIV may soon be cured. But for the time being please continue to take your HIV treatment as directed by your HIV clinicians.