KP-1461: A New Approach to HIV Treatment Now in Studies
A completely new type of antiretroviral drug—KP-1461, manufactured by Koronis Pharmaceuticals—has entered the human testing phase. Whereas currently approved antiretroviral medications attempt to stop HIV from reproducing, Koronis’s compound encourages the replication of HIV. KP-1461 embeds itself in the DNA of the virus; when the virus reproduces, it does so with KP-1461 in place, resulting in the production of defective virus that can’t infect other cells.
In an interview with John James of AIDS Treatment News, Stephen Becker, MD, of Koronis explains how, in test-tube studies, the production of defective strains of HIV “[brought] about the collapse of the viral population.”
Important safety studies are now being conducted. A potential concern is that the mutations caused by KP-1461 could backfire, resulting in a more—not less—virulent strain of HIV. Depending on these study results, Koronis will decide whether to move forward with the development of this drug.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
