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The results of the first human clinical trial of the HIV drug, Gammora, have shown that it can eliminate up to 99% of the virus in four weeks after treatment.
The results released on Sunday show that Gammora has significantly reduced viral load in humans by killing infected cells without harming healthy cells, unlike antiretroviral drugs that prevent the spread of the virus.
Apoptosis
The study was conducted by researchers from Zion Medical, an Israeli biotechnology company, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"The drug triggers the self-destruction of the infected cell called apoptosis and has the potential to heal HIV-infected patients by destroying all cells that carry the HIV genome.
RANDOMLY
"These first clinical results have exceeded our expectations and give hope for a cure for the disease," said Dr. Esmira Naftali, Development Manager at Zion Medical, adding that nine patients from Ronald Bata Memorial Hospital in Uganda had been vaccinated. randomly badigned different doses of the drug for four to five weeks.
In the second part of the trial conducted two weeks later, patients received the drug with additional retroviral therapy after four to five weeks.
Viral load
Patients received either 800 mg lopinavir or 200 mg ritonavir (LPV + r) daily in combination with Gammora twice weekly or with LPV + r only.
The results showed that combined treatments eliminated up to 99% of the viral load in four weeks without exhibiting side effects.
During the 10-week study, patients in both groups experienced a significant increase in the number of T-lymphocytes – another name for CD4 cells, which play a role in the body's immune system.
DOSAGE
"Given the limited nature of this study, we are excited to prove the efficacy of our Phase 2b drug with more participants over a longer period of time," said Dr. Naftali.
Professor Abraham Loyter of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem began the study ten years ago. Phase two is expected to begin in the coming months, expanding the pool of subjects to 50 and the dosing period to three months.
ENZYME
The drug is derived from the integration of an HIV enzyme responsible for inserting the genetic material of the virus into the DNA of the infected cell.
According to the indications, 1,493,382 Kenyans live with the virus, the overall prevalence rate has fallen to 4.8%.
PROPHYLAXIS
The prevalence among women is 5.2% and 4.5% among men. More than 53,291 Kenyans benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis.
The government intends to increase this figure to half a million people by 2022.
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