Academic Journal
Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 26 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Experimental drug tackles both HIV and genital herpes
Scientists are developing a drug that may be effective in treating two sexually transmitted infections at once - HIV and genital herpes - as well as potentially preventing the spread of HIV from one person to another.
Researchers from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium say the experimental drug, dubbed PMEO-DAPym, can tackle both HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and HSV (herpes simplex virus). The drug can prevent HIV from multiplying, making the cells targeted by the virus less susceptible to infection.
The researchers say that both HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and HSV, the virus that causes genital herpes, can together have dangerous effects. People with genital herpes are more likely to become infected with HIV. Additionally, the scientists say, for people who carry both viruses, one infection can worsen the symptoms of the other. These people are also more likely to infect their partners.
There are drugs already on the market that are both anti-HIV and anti-HSV - tenofovir and adefovir. But the researchers say these drugs do not have the ability to stop the spread of the HIV virus as well as targeting particular cells.
PMEO-DAPym can do this by effectively "down-modulating" the CCR5 receptor. This a molecule on the surface of human immune cells that the HIV virus exploits to enter and infect the cells.
Jan Balzarini of KU Leuven says:
"We are excited about this finding since the concomitant action of one single drug on two different targets in the HIV infection process makes it a multifunctional drug that might eventually result in more efficient suppression of virus replication and a lesser risk of resistance development."
In comparing the effectiveness of PMEO-DAPym against other HIV and HSV drugs already on the market, the researchers say that PMEO-DAPym was equal to or better than tenofovir and adefovir in the majority of the tests.
When testing PMEO-DAPym in a panel of clinical HIV and HSV isolates that were resistant to the currently available drugs, the new antiviral was effective against all of them.
The drug was less effective against HSV compared with acyclovir, a popular anti-HSV drug. But the researchers claim that PMAO-DAPym would still prove effective in the higher concentrations that can be achieved in topical preparations.
As well as being tested against the HIV and HSV viruses themselves, the researchers also tested the new antiviral on cells, tissues and animals prior to exposure to the viruses.
A relative of PMEO-DAPym, tenofovir, has been shown in previous clinical trials, the researchers say, to have an effect as a "vaginal microbicide" - a gel that can be applied to the vagina before sex, helping to protect women against infection.
They add that this suggests PMEO-DAPym might also be developed as a prevention tool against HIV and HSV.
Based on results that proved the drug to be effective against infection of cells through the CCR5 receptor, the researchers say that in addition to blocking multiplication of the virus, making the human mucosal tissue harder to infect could also be a route to effective prevention of HIV transmission.
Before a decision is reached on whether the drug will be approved for clinical trials in humans, it must first be tested in a "relevant microbicidal animal model." The researchers add that its application as a systemic treatment following infection also needs to be investigated.
Written by Honor Whiteman
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today Visit our hiv / aids section for the latest news on this subject. A multi-targeted drug candidate with dual anti-HIV and Anti-HSV activity, PLoS Pathog 9(7): e1003456. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003456. Open-access journal article. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLA
27 Jul. 2013.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
'Experimental drug tackles both HIV and genital herpes'
Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam). We reserve the right to amend opinions where we deem necessary.
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Thanks to DR. ODUWA BEST , the great man that save my life,some months again I was very sick and feel pain every-time, it was him that bring me out, am frank Benjamin or email me for information fankalexanderbenjamin112@gmail.com, am from USA I was once a herpes patient it was him that cured me, I want to say big thanks to him because he did very great in my life, before this man start with my cured he ask me to promise him one thing, that once am cured I should share his news to the world about how his going to help me and I was even happy that I found help I promise him that I will do that immediately the man told me that will should start with the cure and I inform him that he should go ahead because I want to see my self cure from that sickness this man ask me to give him time to work on my cure he email back and ask me to provide the curing things which I did the next-day of it he called that he have getting the things and his about working on the cure in less 1hours he called me that he is done that I should go for test, in my body everything heal automatically when I go for test I was negative a great thanks to he you can contact him now email:dr.oduwaspellhome@gmail.com OR droduwaspellhome@outlook.com
ReplyDelete