Viral Genetics, Inc. Unveils Potential Mechanism of Action in HIV/AIDS Research

21-Aug-2008 - USA

Viral Genetics, Inc. unveiled a new theory regarding a potential mechanism of action, which could advance HIV/AIDS research and the development of an inexpensive, effective therapy for HIV. The study team says some of the study findings may also be applicable to autoimmune disease. Viral Genetics has been accepted by the Institute of Human virology (IHV) to unveil and discuss its new model and findings at IHV’s 11th Annual International Meeting in an interactive poster session.

Viral Genetics has and continues to use TNP-1, a mixture of peptides derived from thymic histones, to research HIV/AIDS. When used in six international human clinical trials, including a double blind placebo controlled study in South Africa, results indicated that 25-35% of the HIV-infected population exhibited significantly reduced viral load and clinical improvement. During in vitro research, the study group found that individual peptides in the TNP mixture can bind to antigen-presenting cells and may be able to redirect the immune response.

The study group has discovered, and will continue to search for, peptides that will bind with high affinity to the greatest number of molecules encoded by MHC alleles (genes) within the population. The MHC genes encode molecules that are expressed on antigen presenting cells. The group has finished preliminary studies, and is currently testing the candidate peptides in a number of in vitro and in vivo animal models that it believes will provide proof-of-concept studies for both HIV as well as other diseases.

To uncover the mechanism of action responsible for improvement in previous international clinical trials, the active components had to be identified and synthesized to purity. The purified peptides then had to be, and will continue to be, tested for activity, safety, and efficacy. As a result, Viral Genetics has uncovered evidence for a likely mechanism of action using its targeted peptide approach. The long-term goal of the study is to obtain an IND for testing the newly identified and synthesized peptides or “targeted peptides” that can appropriately redirect the immune response to HIV.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/85993/viral-genetics-inc-unveils-potential-mechanism-of-action-in-hiv-aids-research.html