CytoDyn Inc has highlighted a research paper which indicates that its flagship drug leronlimab shows activity against 4-Class drug-resistant HIV-1 from heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) subjects.
The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company noted that the research paper entitled “Leronlimab (PRO 140) activity against 4-class drug-resistant HIV-1 from Heavily Treatment Experienced Subjects” has been accepted, peer-reviewed and is available as a journal pre-proof on ScienceDirect.
“We would like to thank our Italian colleagues for understanding the importance of leronlimab in the treatment of HIV. This is further proof that leronlimab can benefit CCR5 tropic HIV patients, including those patients with multidrug resistance. HIV patients deserve the opportunity for multiple, effective treatment options,” said Scott A. Kelly, CytoDyn’s chief medical officer.
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The project was a collaborative effort among scientists and researchers from Italy — including the University of Milan, Italy; University of Siena, Siena, Italy; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy; Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo, Milan, Italy; University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; and Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy; University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
“We believe leronlimab has many advantages, including protecting healthy cells from viral entry, prevention of HIV transmission, convenience, lower toxicity, and the ability to treat patients across the full spectrum of disease from treatment-naive to 4-class resistant HIV,” said Nader Pourhassan, CytoDyn’s CEO in a statement.
He added: “Many HIV patients could also be in danger of developing NASH and, with our recent 350 mg open-label Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) trial having achieved its primary and secondary endpoints, we believe that all HIV patients may benefit from a CCR5 product as part of their medication.”
Pourhassan noted that leronlimab’s potential role in cancer treatment could help HIV patients with a long history of HIV (especially heavily treatment-experienced HIV), which increases their risk of developing cancer.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted CytoDyn Fast Track designation to explore two potential indications using leronlimab to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and metastatic cancer. The first indication is combination therapy with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for HIV-infected patients, and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).
Leronlimab, among various potential applications, is a viral-entry inhibitor in HIV/AIDS. It binds to CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells.
Contact Ritika at ritika@proactiveinvestors.com