The medical field has been seeking a cure for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for years, and now a potential solution is making strides. Researchers have begun a clinical trial using CAR T cell therapy to attempt to cure HIV. This innovative approach is the first of its kind and offers hope to the millions of people worldwide who are living with the virus. In this article, we will explore the science behind CAR T cell therapy, understand the process of the clinical trial, and discuss the potential impact of this groundbreaking research.
UC Davis Health researchers have announced that they have dosed the second participant in their clinical trial in search of a cure for HIV, utilizing CAR T-cell therapy. The innovative study uses immunotherapy, where a patient’s own white blood cells (T-cells) are taken by scientists and modified to seek out and target HIV cells to manage the virus without medication. The first participant received anti-HIV duoCAR T cells last August, making it the first clinical study to investigate the use of duoCAR T-cell therapy for HIV treatment in humans.
The study involves three cohorts of three individuals each (totaling nine) enrolled in the dose-escalating trial. An additional nine subjects may be enrolled in the expansion cohort. For the study, the researchers are recruiting HIV-positive individuals over the age of 18 who have had an undetectable HIV viral load for at least 12 months and who have been on continuous antiretroviral therapy for at least 12 months. The goal of this phase of the trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of varying single-dose regimens of the CAR T-cell therapy.
CAR T-cell therapy has been used to treat some types of lymphomas and leukemias, as well as multiple myeloma. It is typically used after other treatments have been tried. Additionally, a study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests CAR T-cell therapy could become a highly effective therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients who do not respond to current lupus treatments, as it eliminates all the harmful B cells. However, the primary goal of this trial is to find a cure for HIV, as over 38 million individuals worldwide are living with HIV, and more needs to be done to identify a potential cure for the disease.
The CAR T-cell study is funded by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and is sponsored by Caring Cross. Members of the Caring Cross team developed the anti-HIV CAR T-cell therapeutic candidate that is presently being evaluated in the Phase I/II clinical trial. According to Boro Dropulić, executive director of Caring Cross, the therapy has the potential to transform and save the lives of people living with HIV. The study’s ultimate goal is to identify the optimal dose of the CAR T-cell therapy for ongoing clinical development, bringing that one step closer to finding a cure.
In conclusion, the initiation of clinical trials using CAR T cells to potentially cure HIV is a promising step forward in the fight against this deadly virus. This groundbreaking therapy offers hope to the millions of people living with HIV and brings us one step closer to eradicating this disease. Although there are still many hurdles to overcome, the progress made so far is truly remarkable. As we continue to study and develop CAR T cell therapy, let us remain optimistic and supportive in the pursuit of a cure for HIV.
