Open Enrollment for HIV Clinical Trial

Hi friends 👋🏼,

Here’s what happened in the world of science and medicine this week:

• Potentially curative HIV clinical trial now enrolling

• New-and-improved stem cell therapy for Type 1 Diabetes announced

• Novel CRISPR study for Huntington’s disease brings hope

• Innovation award granted to CRISPR candidate for heart disease

🦠 HIV Clinical Trial Now Enrolling

A new drug candidate called EBT-101 is being tested in clinical trials as a possible cure for HIV: The method uses CRISPR gene editing to remove large parts of HIV DNA from the human genome. As a result, the virus is unable to spread and reproduce. The strategy promises to provide a cure without the need for lifelong antiretroviral medication and therapy.

1/ EBT-101 is an in vivo CRISPR-based therapeutic designed to remove HIV proviral DNA from affected cell reservoirs. This first-in-human study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of EBT-101 in participants who chronically suppress HIV with daily antiretroviral therapy.

2/ To date, one participant has been dosed with EBT-101 in July 2022, with initial findings indicating the treatment was well tolerated. The participant continues to be monitored for safety and is expected to qualify for analytical treatment interruption (stopping antiretroviral therapy) to evaluate the impact of EBT-101.

How it works:

EBT-101 is delivered to patients through a single intravenous infusion and employs a viral vector (Adeno-Associated virus, AAV) to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 with two targeting guide RNAs. The CRISPR system cuts large portions of the HIV DNA that has integrated into the genome, thereby minimizing the possibility of viral escape.

HIV Clinical Program & How to Enroll 👇🏼

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