CytoDyn Highlights NIH Grant for HIV Functional Cure Preclinical Study of Gene Therapy Based on Leronlimab
VANCOUVER, Washington, July 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) (“CytoDyn” or the “Company”), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab, a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, today announced a new, preclinical study in nonhuman primates that will evaluate the potential use in HIV of a gene therapy based on the experimental monoclonal antibody leronlimab.
- The grant will fund the development and preclinical research of a single-injection gene therapy that codes for the leronlimab protein sequence and which will be delivered via an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector.
- Leronlimab has demonstrated it can pharmacologically mimic a CCR5 deficient donor by occupying available CCR5 molecules.1 Leronlimab is a protein, and the goal of the research at OHSU is to create a gene therapy that expresses the gene encoding the leronlimab protein.
- Jacob Lalezari, M.D., Scientific Advisor to CytoDyn, stated, The potential for a one-time gene therapy encoding a protein such as leronlimab represents a great hope for the future of HIV therapy and functional cure.
- Gene therapy consisting of the gene for an anti-HIV antibody carried by an AAV vector holds promise for long-term control of HIV.