Antiviral hyperactivation-limiting therapeutics as a novel class for the treatment of HIV/AIDS: focus on VS411

Abstract

Introduction: Immune activation plays a central pathogenetic role in both HIV-1 replication and depletion of CD4⁺ T cells leading to disease progression and the onset of the AIDS. While current antiretroviral therapies suppress viral replication to undetectable levels, they do not normalize the excessive level of T-cell activation and proliferation. A new class of anti-HIV-1 drugs known as antiviral hyperactivation-limiting therapeutics (AV-HALTs) combines direct antiviral activity with an antiproliferative action to limit the hyperactivation of the immune system now recognized as the key driver of the progressive loss of CD4⁺ T cells that occurs over the natural course of the HIV-1 infection.

Areas covered: Areas covered include preclinical, Phase I and Phase IIa studies of VS411, the first drug product in a novel class of anti-HIV drugs, AV-HALT agents.

Expert opinion: The two drug combination VS411 safely achieved the goals established for the AV-HALT class based on the results of a Phase IIA proof-of-concept study. Additional work is underway to identify and develop new agents that combine the dual attributes of AV-HALTs, direct reduction of both HIV-1 viral load and markers of excessive immune activation, in a single molecule.

Keywords::

• antiretroviral therapy
• AV-HALTs
• HIV-1
• immunomodulating drug
• VS411

Acknowledgments

The authors thank D Baev, DD Forni and M Stevens for their contribution to the manuscript.