[ad_1]
A clinical trial of an experimental injectable drug has been shown to be effective in suppressing the HIV virus in patients in whom it was diagnosed. Researchers have indicated that it is as effective as taking a badtail of pills every day. ( pixabay )
According to a new study, a single injection could have prevented the progression of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, up to four months.
Researchers in Taiwan said that the antibody called UB-421 was safe and that it effectively prevented the virus from destroying the immune system. They reported that a single injection of the antibody is as effective as a daily pill treatment.
They published the results of the phase 2 trial of the drug in The New England Medical Journal.
Injectable drug against HIV
Researchers conducted a clinical trial of 29 HIV-infected participants taking anti-HIV drugs in tablet form. They were divided into two groups: one received an injection once a week while the other received a shot with a stronger dose once every two weeks.
After the eight to 16 week treatment period, all participants resumed their usual regimen of antiretroviral or antiretroviral therapy.
One participant had to discontinue the experimental treatment after developing a mild rash. However, the others were evaluated at follow-up visits and it was found that the suppression of HIV was maintained during the trial.
"We were able to use this antibody to maintain a lasting viral remission by using a single agent instead of a badtail of drugs," said Chang-Yi Wang, the lead author of the study. "Such sustainable maintenance is unprecedented and opens up many new potential treatment options for HIV-infected and resistant patients."
UB-421 works by binding to the same input site that the HIV virus uses to infect cells. It competes with the HIV virus and occupies more cells, thus preventing it from infecting more cells.
The antibody can even eliminate the HIV virus already present at the site of entry of the cell.
More options for HIV patients
Today, HIV-positive patients have to take a badtail of drugs every day to suppress the virus, preventing it from progressing or pbading on to others. In case of a missed dose, the virus could develop resistance and flood the body with new copies. Taking a "pill on vacation" can lead to death.
A long-acting injectable may offer another option to patients with the virus.
The next step in the study is to test UB-421 on patients who have recently been diagnosed with HIV but who have not started taking antiretroviral therapy. Their goal is to see if a shot can control the virus for up to six months.
Ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[ad_2]
Source link
