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Biotron HIV drug clears virus from patients' reservoir cells, trial shows

Biotron Ltd. said its investigational HIV drug helped to clear virus from key reservoir cells in a mid-stage trial conducted in Thailand.

While BIT225 did not improve the antiretroviral drugs' ability to clear HIV-1 from the blood, it significantly reduced virus levels in key reservoir cells called macrophages. In HIV-infected people, the virus hides in these macrophages and they can't be cleared even if the patients are taking antiretroviral drugs. The presence of the virus create serious problems in patients including HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder and a faster ageing of the immune system.

At 12 weeks, BIT225 also delivered a significant reduction in levels of sCD163, a cell receptor and macrophage activation marker. Higher levels of sCD163 are linked with worse clinical outcomes in HIV-1 patients.

"This trial shows for the first time that there may be a way to clear one of the main cellular reservoirs," Biotron Managing Director Michelle Miller said in a news release. Miller noted how patients need lifelong treatment to control HIV-1, and BIT225 presents a major step toward curing the infection.

BIT225 was well tolerated, with no severe adverse events or withdrawals, according to a preliminary analysis of the safety data.

HIV destroys a type of white blood cell and replicates itself inside them. Left untreated, the infection breaks down the immune system, essentially disabling it within 10 to 15 years.