Viral-Attachment and Entry Inhibitors Show Promise for Prevention in Monkey Models

Macaques that received CCR5 inhibitors, either vaginally with fusion inhibitors or orally alone, were protected against vaginal SHIV challenge.

CCR5 inhibitors are being evaluated mainly for HIV treatment, but could they also have a role in prevention? In two macaque studies, Veazey and colleagues evaluated whether oral or vaginal delivery of CCR5 inhibitors and entry inhibitors might protect against vaginal SHIV challenge.

In the first study, three compounds were administered vaginally, either alone or in combination: BMS-378806 (a molecule that binds gp120 glycoproteins and prevents attachment to CD4 and CCR5 receptors), CMPD167 (a molecule that binds CCR5 receptors to inhibit gp120 association), and C52L (a bacterially expressed peptide inhibitor of gp41-mediated fusion that is similar to T-20). Of 51 animals given at least one inhibitor 30 minutes before challenge, 40 (78%) were…

Reviewing Author

Salim S. Abdool Karim, MD, PhD

Viral-Attachment and Entry Inhibitors Show Promise for Prevention in Monkey Models

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Reviewing Author