TBR-652, an experimental(Of a drug) Not licensed for use in humans, or as a treatment for a particular condition. Experimental drugs are studied in clinical trials to determine their safety and efficacy, and are sometimes made available via Special Access Schemes prior to their approval. antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV., seems to have dual benefits – inhibiting HIV and reducing inflammation.
Delegates to the conference heard that this is because the drug blocks two receptors on the surface of cells: CCR5 – used by HIV; and CCR2 – used by a protein associated with inflammation.
There is a growing consensus that even a very low viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. can cause inflammation, and that this can help explain the higher rates of some cardiovascular disease and other serious illnesses seen in patients with HIV.
TBR-652 was studied as monotherapy in a phase 2A smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this., ten-day study involving 54 patients. Each participant received one of five varying doses of the drug. The 75mg per day dose had the biggest effect on viral load.
The drug appeared safe and well-tolerated, and none of the patients who took the 75mg dose reported any serious side-effects.
What’s more, the drug also appeared to have an impact on inflammation. The investigators attributed this to TBR-652’s ability to block CCR2.
But the benefits of this are still uncertain. There is some concern that blocking CCR2 may interfere with immune responses, and therefore increase the risk of infections.
Further studies into the drug are planned.
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