HIV antibody infusion safely suppresses virus in infected people

A single infusion of a powerful antibody called VRC01 can suppress the level of HIV in the blood of infected people who are not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), scientists at the National Institutes of Health report in a paper published today. The researchers also found that giving HIV-infected people VRC01 antibodies by infusing them into a vein or under the skin is safe and well tolerated, and the antibodies remain in the blood for an extended period. The Phase 1 clinical trial conducted by scientists at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) involved 23 HIV-infected people, 15 of whom were taking ART and eight of whom were not. The individuals on ART received two infusions of VRC01 28 days apart, and those not on ART received one antibody infusion. The investigators assessed whether the antibody infusions were safe and whether they reduced the...