Disease Focus: HIV/AIDS
Evaluation of Safety and Feasibility of Cytomegalovirus-Specific, Anti-HIV Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CMV/HIV-CAR) T Cells in People with HIV
Therapeutic Candidate or Device Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells that express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) which targets and eliminates HIV-infected cells Indication Management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Therapeutic Mechanism Persons with HIV (PWH) lose immunity because of decreased T lymphocyte function. We propose to treat them with CAR T cells which […]
Phase 1 Clinical research program for functional cure of HIV with EBT-101, in-vivo gene therapy
Therapeutic Candidate or Device EBT-101 is a novel genome editing therapeutic targeting integrated HIV-1 genome to achieve sustained virologic reduction to enable functional cure. Indication EBT-101 is intended to deplete the reservoir of integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA in immune reconstituted virally suppressed HIV-1 positive individuals. Therapeutic Mechanism EBT-101 is an in vivo gene therapy product […]
Anti-HIV duoCAR-T cell therapy for HIV infection
Therapeutic Candidate or Device HIV-specific CAR-T cells Indication Management of HIV infection Therapeutic Mechanism We will modify T cells such that they are able to directly control HIV in the absence of therapy. Should this work, these cells will result in long-term control of HIV in absence of any ongoing treatment, a version of a […]
Stem Cell Gene Therapy for HIV Mediated by Lentivector Transduced, Pre-selected CD34+ Cells in AIDS lymphoma patients
Therapeutic Candidate or Device HSC gene modified by a lentiviral vector which encodes a triple combination of HIV-resistance genes and a pre-selective marker. Indication HIV in AIDS-lymphoma patients. Therapeutic Mechanism Bone marrow transplants are standard of care for AIDS-lymphoma patients providing a cure for the patient's lymphoma. A purified population of triple combination anti-HIV lentiviral […]
CMV-specific T cells expressing anti-HIV CAR and CMV vaccine boost as immunotherapy for HIV/AIDS
Therapeutic Candidate or Device Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-reactive T cells that express chimeric antibody receptors (CARs) to recognize and kill HIV-infected cells Indication HIV/AIDS Therapeutic Mechanism Antiretroviral drug therapy (ART) suppresses HIV to undetectable levels but does not eradicate the cellular reservoirs of the virus. We will engineer HIV-specific CAR T cells that will kill reactivated HIV-infected […]
Site-specific gene editing in hematopoietic stem cells as an anti-HIV therapy
The overall goal of this proposal is to develop new methods and technologies to improve our ability to engineer hematopoietic stem cells. These are the adult stem cells found in the bone marrow that give rise to all of the components of the blood and immune systems. Being able to engineer these cells provides potential […]
Stem Cells: A New Avenue of HIV Research and New Approaches to HIV Treatment
A Phase I, Open-Label Study To Assess The Safety, Feasibility and Engraftment of Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN) CCR5 Modified Autologous CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (SB-728MR-HSPC) with Escalating Doses of Busulfan In HIV-1 (R5) Infected Sub…
The HIV-1 virus enters cells by binding to a protein called CCR5 on the cell surface. A naturally occurring mutation in CCR5, CCR5d32, has been shown to provide protection from HIV-1 infection and AIDS. All individuals carry two copies of the CCR5 gene, and those with both copies of CCR5 mutated are highly resistant to […]
Generation of a functional thymus to induce immune tolerance to stem cell derivatives
Stem cell research offers the promise of replacing missing or damaged tissues in the treatment of disease. Stem-cell-derived transplants still face problems with rejection as in traditional organ transplants. Several drugs can prevent rejection but also suppress the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to infections and cancer. To avoid rejection without using drugs requires re-educating […]