Benitec Biopharma Ltd (BNTC)

[georgejjl]

Direct form the Benitec website

1.HIV/AIDS with Calimmune
Background
In March 2012, Benitec granted a non-exclusive licence to US-based biotech company, Calimmune, to use ddRNAi for treating HIV/AIDS. The agreement covers use of ddRNAi to target up to three key viral and cellular genes, which have been identified as significant therapeutic targets able to inhibit HIV/AIDS infection.

Calimmune’s approach to treating HIV/AIDS is highly innovative, and developed with core technology from the lab of Dr David Baltimore, a Nobel Laureate in the area of HIV/AIDS. The approach involves extraction of T cells from HIV patients, silencing of the gene that codes for the CCR5 receptor protein associated with low HIV loads, and re-injecting the modified cells back into patients, thereby conferring resistance to HIV. Calimmume's HIV/AIDS treatment is known as Cal-1.


Status
Calimmune has commenced a Phase l/ll clinical trial of Cal-1 with current status:

The first cohort of four HIV-positive participants has been infused with their own T cells and hematopoietic stem cells, modified to silence the HIV receptor CCR5
Review of trial data by the DSMB confirmed that none of the patients had experienced serious adverse affects
The FDA has approved the next cohort dosing of three patients, who will also receive a preconditioning regime designed to make the treatment more effective.
Data from this study are expected in 2015.

http://www.benitec.com/pipeline/licensed-programs-detail

Good luck and GOD bless,

George