Protective properties of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (MC1220) incorporated into liposome against intravaginal challenge of Rhesus Macaques with RT-SHIV

CARON M;BESSON G;ETENNA SL;MINTSA NDONG A;MOURTAS S;RADAELLI A;MORGHEN CD;LODDO, ROBERTA;LA COLLA P;ANTIMISIARIS SG;KAZANJI M.

2010-01-01

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Abstract

In the absence of an effective vaccine against HIV, it is urgent to develop an effective alternative such as a microbicide. Single and repeated applications of MC1220 microbicide were evaluated in macaques. First, animals were given a single application of 0.5% or 1.5% MC1220-containing liposomal gel. A second group were treated with 0.5% MC1220 once a day for 4 days. The control groups were treated by liposomal gel alone. Thirty minutes after the last application, animals were challenged with RT-SHIV. In the first protocol, 2 of 4 animals treated by 0.5% of the MC1220 and 2 of 5 treated by 1.5% were protected. In the second protocol, 3 of 5 treated animals were protected and 5 of 5 controls were infected. The RNA viral load at necropsy was significantly lower (p=0.05) in treated-infected animals than in controls. In both protocols, the number of CD4+ T cells was lower at viremia peak in infected than in protected animals.