Neutralizing Antibodies Against HIV Produce Remarkable Results in Primates

In 2011, investigators discovered antibodies that neutralize most strains of HIV in vitro. In 2012, such antibodies were shown to be effective in vivo, in “humanized” mice (mice with human-derived blood system; NEJM JW Gen Med Nov 27 2012).

A multi-institutional team now reports that a “cocktail” of different neutralizing antibodies dramatically lowers virus levels in monkeys that have been infected with a virus that is part human HIV and part simian immunodeficiency virus (which causes an AIDS-like illness in monkeys). Levels of the virus remained very low for weeks after treatment but eventually did rise. However, the virus that was detected posttreatment had not developed resistance to the neutralizing antibodies. Like antiretroviral ther…