"Next Generation" HIV/AIDS Treatments Featured In NAPWA And The AIDS Institute's Community Forum At XVIII International AIDS Conference

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 23 Jul 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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New data presented by researchers at the XVIII International AIDS Conference this week shows significant momentum for the emerging field of therapeutic vaccines, immune hyperactivation, and other immune based therapies, according to officials from National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and The AIDS Institute, two of the leading USA-based patient advocacy organizations. The data were presented at a special community forum, titled "Research Advances from Therapeutic Vaccines and Other Immune-Based Therapies."

"With proper funding, the innovative researchers at these companies will one day bring us better treatments that support or restore the immune systems of people living with HIV/AIDS," said Stephen Bailous, Vice President Community Affairs, NAPWA.

Four therapeutic vaccines each showed new efficacy data at this conference:

- FIT-06 from FIT Biotech and DermaVir from Genetic Immunity each showed significant reduction in viral load in treatment naïve patients in Phase 2 trials.
- Also in a Phase 2 trial, AGS-004 from Argos Therapeutics showed large reductions in viral loads allowing extended ART holidays for treatment experienced patients.
- Vacc-4x from Bionor Immuno, which reported two years ago at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Mexico City that it allowed those with moderate viral loads to stay off treatment for an average of 31 months. High responder volunteers had a reduction in viral load by 0.5 lg. The Company today reports that these same individuals continue to show an immunologic response to the vaccine 7 years later, which is unprecedented.

"These researchers are answering Dr. Fauci's call for 'good therapeutic vaccine candidates,'" said Mr. Bailous, referring to Anthony Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, who spoke at Tuesday's plenary session of the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, where he called for "a good therapeutic vaccine" in order to preserve the immune function of people living with HIV.

The presentations at today's Community Forum include:

Topically Applied DermaVir Safely Boosts HIV-specific Immune Response and Reduces Viral Load Within Six Months in Treatment-naïve Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Phase II HIV Therapeutic Vaccine Study, Julianna Lisziewicz, PhD, CEO, Genetic Immunity

VS411 safely reduces both excessive immune system activation and HIV viral load within 28 days in treatment-naïve individuals: A Phase II HIV AV-HALT Anti-Immune Hyperactivation Study, Franco Lori, MD, CEO, ViroStatics

FIT-06 therapeutic DNA vaccine reduces viral load and increases CD4 cell count in two-year Phase II study, Mart Ustav, Ph.D., Senior VP and CSO, FIT Biotech

Vacc4x -- a therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine based on modified peptides: Clinical trial results and update on clinical trial development, Maja Sommerfelt, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer Bionor Immuno

Clinical update on AGS-004: Overcoming the challenges to successful HIV Immunotherapy, Charles Nicolette, Ph.D., CSO and VP R&D, Argos Therapeutics

TBR-652, a potent dual chemokine receptor 5/chemokine receptor 2 (CCR5/CCR2) antagonist in phase 2 development for treatment of HIV infection, Richard Ogden PhD, Scientific Development Advisor, Tobira Therapeutics

Gene therapy-based cell therapy for HIV and therapeutic HIV vaccines, Riku Rautsola, Ph.D., CEO VirxSYS Corporation

Advanced development of dual acting pyrimidinediones (IQP-0410 and IQP-0528) as highly potent anti-HIV therapeutic drugs and topical microbicides, Daniel R. Caffoe, President and Chairman, ImQuest Life Sciences, Inc.

PEPTERON, A novel class of antiviral, Dr. Dorothy Bray, Ph.D., Consultant to Receptopharm Inc.

National Association of People with AIDS and The AIDS Institute have joined to sponsor this important community forum to showcase efficacy data from leading therapeutic vaccines and other immune based therapies that could lead to next generation breakthrough treatments.

Source:
NAPWA
The AIDS Institute

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