Identification and development of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an exciting avenue to explore as a tool to both prevent HIV infection and as a therapy in HIV cure strategies.
MHRP is developing prophylactic treatment strategies that can be administered during large scale combat operations (e.g., high risk blood transfusion, needlesticks) to provide immediate and durable protection against infection without the need for continued drug adherence.
MHRP is leveraging collaborations and recent progress and recent advances in the development of broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (bNAb) formulations. In 2023, we are planning to test combination bNAbs, including multi-specific monoclonal antibodies and are also exploring delivery innovations.
Discovery Research
Antibody responses are critical in protection from infection and transmission. Studying these responses allow us to understand the properties of antibodies that associate with vaccine efficacy, durability and functional development so we may harness these attributes in new vaccine strategies or a functional cure for HIV.
Studying the natural development of broadly neutralizing antibodies in infected individuals can also provide insight on how to elicit this function through vaccination. MHRP researchers continue to leverage data and samples from its vast portfolio of clinical studies to isolate and characterize new bNAbs. In 2022 our scientists identified two novel mAbs, MHRP01 and MHRP02, directed to the MPER (membrane proximal external region) on the envelope of HIV, and demonstrated these mAbs to be broad and potent against a diverse panel of HIV strains.
Dr. Shelly Krebs on mAbs