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Replies to post #532 on Argos Therapeutics Inc fka ARGSQ
The study achieved its primary endpoint, with all six patients demonstrating a positive immune response, defined as a greater than 2-fold increase from baseline in the number of multi-functional HIV-1 specific effector / memory T-cells. Because of this positive immune response, all six patients were able to have ART interrupted, with rebound viremia occurring at a median of 29 days, following which ART was resumed. Additionally, the magnitude of the immune response was positively correlated with longer time to viral rebound following interruption of ART. Viral rebound after ART interruption is widely attributed to latently infected cells known as the “viral reservoir” which is ineffectively targeted by immunotherapy alone. Consistent with prior clinical studies, AGS-004 was found to be well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
The favorable results of this study provide support for Argos’ ongoing HIV eradication study in which AGS-004 is being administered in combination with vorinostat, a latency-reversing drug. This study is being conducted at the University of North Carolina, with planned enrollment of up to 12 patients and with initial data expected in early 2018. Funding for the development of AGS-004 for the treatment of HIV is being provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Collaboratory of Research for AIDS Eradication.
“We are encouraged by the results of this study, in which AGS-004 generated a targeted immune response against the HIV virus,” noted Charles Nicolette, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Argos. “This is an important first step in our goal of not only combating active HIV infection, but also of eliminating the HIV viral reservoir, which has not yet been achieved with any currently available agent or combination therapy. We are hopeful that our strategy of stimulating cells that are latently infected with the HIV virus with the latency-reversing agent vorinostat will enable AGS-004-stimulated memory / effector T-cells to identify and eliminate these latently infected cells, thus potentially eliminating the HIV viral reservoir.”
