Protease inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that are commonly used to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Now, scientists have designed a new delivery system for these drugs that, when coupled with another drug, rid immune cells of HIV and kept the virus in check for long periods.
While current HIV treatments involve pills that are taken daily, the new regimens’ long-lasting effects suggest that HIV treatment could be administered perhaps once or twice per year.
Howard E. Gendelman, professor and chair of the pharmacology and experimental neuroscience department at the University of Nebraska, designed the investigational drug delivery system—a so-called “nanoformulated” protease inhibitor.
The nanoformulation process takes a drug and makes it into a crystal, like an ice cube does to water. Next, the crystal drug is placed into a fat and protein coat, similar to what is done in making a coated ice-cream bar. The coating protects the drug from being degraded by the liver and removed by the kidney.
[This protein naturally fights HIV]
When tested with a new drug discovered in the laboratory of Harris A. (“Handy”) Gelbard, professor of neurology, pediatrics, and microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, the nanoformulated protease inhibitor completely eliminated measurable quantities of HIV. The drug, URMC-099, boosted the concentration of the nanoformulated drug in immune cells and slowed the rate at which it was eliminated, thereby prolonging its therapeutic effect.
“The chemical marriage between URMC-099 and antiretroviral drug nanoformulations could increase drug longevity, improve patient compliance, and reduce general toxicities,” says Gendelman. “We are excited about pursing this research for the treatment and eradication of HIV infections.”
The two therapies were tested together in laboratory experiments using human immune cells and in mice that were engineered to have a human immune system. The researchers believe that the nanoformulation technology helps keep the protease inhibitor in white blood cells longer and that URMC-099 extends its lifespan even more.
The findings are published in the journal Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.
[Pair of compounds could ‘shock’ HIV]
Gelbard developed URMC-099 to treat HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders or HAND, the memory loss and overall mental fog that affects half of all patients living with HIV. He tested it with several protease inhibitors, including the nanoformulated version developed by Gendelman, as any patient prescribed URMC-099 would also be taking antiretroviral therapy.
The goal was to determine whether the drugs could be safely administered together. Much to the researchers’ surprise, URMC-099 increased the effectiveness of the nanoformulated drug.
“Our ultimate hope is that we’re able to create a therapy that could be given much less frequently than the daily therapy that is required today,” Gelbard says. “If a drug could be given once every six months or longer that would greatly increase compliance, reduce side effects, and help people manage the disease, because they won’t have to think about taking medication every day.”
The researchers say it’s too soon to tell when the new treatment regimen will move into clinical trials, but anticipate that it will happen in the not too distant future.
The National Institutes of Health funded the work. URMC-099 is exclusively licensed to WavoDyne Therapeutics, Inc. Gelbard and Gendelman are members of WavoDyne’s scientific advisory board.
Source: University of Rochester
