Anti-CD4 Antibody Maintains HIV Suppression

Broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV have antiviral activity, but resistance often develops, at least when only one antibody is used. Ibalizumab, an antibody directed against domain 2 of CD4 (the host HIV receptor) blocks viral entry and was recently approved for treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV (NEJM JW Infect Dis Oct 2018 and N Engl J Med 379:605; 645). Now, in an industry-funded, open-label phase 2 trial, investigators evaluated whether UB-421, an antibody targeting domain 1 of CD4, can maintain viral suppression after antiretroviral therapy (ART) ends.

Twenty-nine people with HIV who had virologic suppression on oral ART received up to eight infusions of UB-421 (10 mg/kg weekly,14 participants; 25 mg/kg every 2 weeks, 15 parti…