Daidzein and other Analogs as Agents for Purging HIV Reservoir
- Field
- Therapeutic Chemicals
- Patent
- IP00473
Key Problem and Market Opportunity
- In the field of HIV research, proviral latency in specific long-lived cell types is the basis for the concept of one or more viral reservoirs, referring to locations (cell types or tissues) characterized by persistence of latent virus. Specifically, the presence of replication-competent HIV in resting CD4-positive T cells, allows this virus to persist for years without evolving despite prolonged exposure to antiretroviral drugs. This latent reservoir of HIV explains the inability of antiretroviral treatment to cure HIV infection.
- The annual revenue of HIV drugs is expected to reach US$9.24 billion by 2019.
Key Advantages of the Technology
- This new discovery has a potential to develop into a treatment for eradication of HIV thoroughly in combination with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).
- The ability of HIV-1 to establish a latent infection presents a barrier to curing HIV. As special agents, Daidzein and its analogs can safely kick-start production of the dormant virus in patients, so that it might be detected and attacked more easily by the immune system. A combination treatment with Daidzein or its analogs and HAART may lead to complete clearance of HIV infection.
Potential Product and Services
- Daidzein and/or analogs combined with different HIV therapeutic agents as cocktail therapy.
Development status and IP Strength
- Patents have been granted in US, PRC, and Germany.