Biotron's BIT225 can clear out HIV reservoir pools

Biotron (ASX:BIT) has published new results from a phase Ib/IIa HIV study suggesting that its lead drug candidate BIT225 can reduce the quantity of virus in HIV reservoir cells.

The company has already published results suggesting that BIT225 can target HIV replication in these monocyte lineage reservoir cells.

The response was greatest in patients with higher total HIV-1 DNA at baseline. As expected, no changes in viral load were observed during the brief treatment period.

The new data were presented by Biotron’s senior virologist Dr John Wilkinson at the Sixth International Workshop on HIV Persistence during Therapy, being held this week in Florida.

The placebo-controlled, randomised study involved 21 patients with HIV-1 infection, of which 14 received BIT225 and the rest a placebo. Patients were dosed over a 10-day period; blood was collected three times during dosing and once during a follow-up visit at day 20.

“The latest results show that BIT225 is able to clear out underlying virus pools from these reservoir cells,” Biotron Managing Director Dr Michelle Miller said.

She said this suggests that the compound could potentially help break the cycle of infection and reinfection with HIV if incorporated into treatment regimens for the virus.

Biotron is also developing BIT225 for the treatment of hepatitis C and has trialled the drug in patients co-infected with both HIV and HCV.

Biotron (ASX:BIT) shares were trading 5.88% higher at $0.09 as of around 2 pm on Thursday.