CULVER CITY, Calif. - ImmunityBio, a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, has announced promising results from a Phase 1 pilot study of its immunotherapy agent N-803 in treating HIV, as published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
In this study conducted by the University of Minnesota Medical School, six HIV-positive participants received infusions of natural killer (NK) cells from close relatives along with N-803, leading to a significant reduction in their infection levels. The treatment was well tolerated and no unexpected adverse events were reported.
The research team, led by Dr. Tim Schacker, is preparing to conduct a follow-on study with more participants to further explore the potential of these immunotherapies for individuals with HIV. HIV, which affects millions worldwide, can impair NK cells, a key component of the body's defense against viral infections.
N-803 is designed to enhance the function of NK cells and CD8+ T cells, which could play a role in the "kick and kill" strategy for curing HIV.
N-803, also known as Anktiva® and nogapendekin alfa inbakicept, is an investigational IL-15 superagonist complex that aims to improve immune responses against diseases, including HIV and certain cancers. It is also being evaluated in three other HIV cure-related clinical trials and two clinical trials for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
ImmunityBio emphasizes that N-803 is still investigational, with its safety and efficacy not yet established by health authorities, including the FDA. The company is known for developing therapies and vaccines that aim to strengthen the natural immune system to fight cancers and infectious diseases.
This announcement is based on a press release statement from ImmunityBio.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.