N-803 and NK Cells Demonstrate HIV Viral Load Reduction Potential in HIV-Positive Patients

In a recent clinical trial, the use of N-803 in combination with natural killer (NK) cells demonstrated promising results in potentially lowering the viral load for individuals with HIV. ImmunityBio, a company specializing in immunotherapy, reported that all participants in the initial phase of the study showed a significant reduction in infection levels and no unexpected side effects were observed, indicating the procedure's safety and tolerability.
The research, published in "The Journal of Infectious Diseases," involved administering healthy NK cells from relatives to six HIV-positive patients, along with N-803 to enhance the activity of these cells. The senior author, Dr. Tim Schacker, and his team from the University of Minnesota Medical School are now planning a subsequent study to further explore the potential of these immunotherapies in treating HIV.
Despite the impact of antiretroviral therapies, HIV remains a global challenge affecting millions and lacks a definitive cure. HIV can impair NK cells, which are vital for fighting off viral infections. The "kick and kill" approach is a current strategy for HIV cure, where N-803 is being tested for its ability to stimulate viral transcription in CD4+ T cells and to boost CD8+ and NK cells, which are essential for targeting and eliminating infected cells.
Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at ImmunityBio, highlighted the importance of enhancing NK cell function and the potential of N-803 in managing infectious diseases. In addition to this study, N-803 is also being evaluated in three other HIV cure-related clinical trials, including two Phase 1 trials and a Phase 2 study.
N-803, also known as Anktiva® and nogapendekin alfa inbakicept, is an innovative IL-15 superagonist complex that is designed to stimulate CD8+ T cells and NK cells, leading to the generation of memory T-cells without stimulating T-reg cells. It is currently under investigation in two clinical trials for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
ImmunityBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on developing advanced therapies and vaccines to combat cancers and infectious diseases. Their immunotherapy and cell therapy platforms aim to stimulate a robust immune response to provide lasting protection against diseases. The company is also working on cancer vaccines and therapies that could reduce or eliminate the need for conventional high-dose chemotherapy.

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