Monoclonal antibodies in HIV therapy

Two papers published this week test the new generation of broad and potent anti-HIV1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in primate models with promising results, both concluding that their results strongly encourage the investigation of mAb therapy for HIV-1 in humans. Dan Barouch et al. show that a single infusion of the potent, broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibody PGT121, as well as various mAb cocktails, suppress the virus to undetectable levels in just a week in SHIV-infected rhesus monkeys. Masashi Shingai et al. report that co-administration of the antibodies 3BNC117 and 10-1074 results in potent suppression of plasma viraemia lasting for several weeks in chronically SHIV-infected macaques.