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HIV

Breakthrough in HIV/AIDS Treatment: Long-Term Delivery of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Using AAV Vector Shows Promise

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from the University of Miami have made significant progress in the development of a new approach for preventing and treating HIV infection. The study, published in Nature Communications, presented a promising method of using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) for long-term HIV prevention and treatment. However, host anti-drug antibody (ADA) responses have been a major obstacle in widespread human use. The study found that transient treatment with the immunomodulatory agent rapamycin (sirolimus) allows for continuous long-term delivery of anti-HIV bnAbs in the absence of detectable ADAs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Long-term delivery of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector is a promising approach for both HIV prevention and treatment.
  • Transient treatment with rapamycin (sirolimus) allows for continuous long-term delivery of anti-HIV bnAbs in immunocompetent mice in the absence of detectable anti-drug antibodies (ADAs).
  • In a 5-monkey trial, the use of rapamycin resulted in 12 successful deliveries of the bnAbs 3BNC117, 10-1074, and PGT145 following drug cessation across all animals.
  • The study's results lend strong support to continuing studies in SHIV-infected monkeys and the potential use of this approach in humans for worldwide use.
  • Paula G. Mondragon and her team from the University of Miami conducted the research, which was published in Nature Communications.
  • The study included additional authors Sebastian P. Fuchs, Rachel Zabizhin, Shallu Tomer, Li Wang, Ethan Cook, Dawn M. Dudley, Kimberly L. Weisgrau, Jessica Furlott, Jennifer Coonen, Eric Alexander, Jun Xie, Guangping Gao, James M. Termini, Jose M. Martinez-Navio, and Anjie Zh.
  • The research was funded by the University of Miami and supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Statistics:

  • 12 successful deliveries of the bnAbs 3BNC117, 10-1074, and PGT145 in a 5-monkey trial following drug cessation.
  • The study used immunocompetent mice and monkey subjects for the research.
  • The approach could potentially be used for worldwide use, subject to further research and development.
  • The study found that transient treatment with rapamycin resulted in continuous long-term delivery of anti-HIV bnAbs in the absence of detectable ADAs.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Studies from University of Miami Yield New Information about HIV/AIDS (Transient rapamycin treatment avoids unwanted host immune responses toward AAV-delivered anti-HIV antibodies). AIDS Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 228.
  • Mondragon, P. G., Fuchs, S. P., Zabizhin, R., Tomer, S., Wang, L., Cook, E., Dudley, D. M., Weisgrau, K. L., Furlott, J., Coonen, J., Alexander, E., Xie, J., Gao, G., Termini, J. M., Martinez-Navio, J., & Zh, A. (2025). Transient rapamycin treatment avoids unwanted host immune responses toward AAV-delivered anti-HIV antibodies. Nature Communications, 16(1), 8906.

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