HIV shock and kill combo shows promise in monkeys

Researchers showed that a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) delayed HIV rebound in a "shock and kill" combination with toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist vesatolimod (GS-9620) from Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) after discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in macaques.

While ART has been effective at controlling HIV infection by blocking viral replication, the virus hides out in immune cells by inserting itself into the cells' chromosome, creating latent viral reservoirs. If therapy is stopped, the virus inevitably rebounds. Shock and kill involves reactivating the latent virus in the presence of antivirals to eliminate the reservoirs...