HIV/AIDs

Merck moving to Phase 2 study of drug-eluting implant to prevent HIV infection

Merck (NYSE:MRK) today announced positive results from a Phase 1 study of its subdermal drug-eluting implant for preventing HIV-1 infection.

The investigational implant has the potential for extended administration of islatravir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of HIV-1 infection, according to a news release.

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Abbott researchers help discover a clue to an HIV cure

Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in green) budding from cultured lymphocyte. [Image courtesy of CDC]Abbott announced today that a team including its scientists has uncovered a rare group of Democratic Republic of Congo residents who are HIV positive but have almost nonexistent viral loads without using antiretroviral treatments.

This group of “HIV elite controllers” opens up a new area for researchers to discover biological trends that could inform the creation of better HIV treatments and potential vaccines.

The researchers from Abbott, Johns Hopkins University, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Université Protestante au Congo found that the prevalence of HIV elite controllers was 2.7–4.3% in the DRC, versus 0.1–2% worldwide.

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