A new drug candidate, PIE12-trimer, developed by a U biochemist and his colleagues, could potentially prevent HIV and also prevent HIV from advancing to AIDS.
The study, published Aug. 18, found that PIE12-trimer is an anti-HIV drug candidate that has the capability to keep the virus from attacking cells in the human body.
The first step for Michael Kay, associate professor of biochemistry in the School of Medicine and senior author of the study, is to raise money to study the effects of the drug on animals. After two or three years of research, they will begin clinical trials on humans.
There are two potential uses for the drug. The first is to use the drug as a microbicide to prevent HIV by using the drug topically through a vaginal ring, and secondly to treat infected HIV patients by preventing the spread of the virus in the body.
The team is working with Patrick Kiser, professor of bioengineering, to design a vaginal ring with the microbicide that would give 30 days of protection from HIV—which could be helpful in third-world countries.
The issue of HIV/AIDS is often swept under the rug and much of the time people think they are invincible to contracting the diseases, said David Olson, a senior in health. “It seems like with all the technology we have they should have something to cure or prevent it.”
Read the full story at the Daily Utah Chronicle.
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