A study of a new HIV neutralizing antibody, 10-1074, has completed its testing in humans. Led by Florian Klein, of the University Hospital Cologne and German Center for Infection Research, the research is published in Nature Medicine.

The research may help develop an HIV vaccine. Klein has begun investigating the idea of using antibodies in treating a patient infected with HIV.

"These antibodies are highly potent and are able to effectively neutralize a large number of different HIV strains," said Klein. "Therefore, they play an important role in the quest for and development of an HIV vaccine."

The study used the neutralizing antibody 10-1074 to target the HIV protein. Results showed that the antibody was well tolerated, had pharmacokinetic properties and high antiviral activity in HIV-positive patients.

"We performed a comprehensive HIV sequence analysis to investigate the dynamics and mechanisms HIV uses to escape the selection pressure by the antibody," said Henning Gruell.

Further trials are planned to improve the understanding of an antibody-mediated treatment for patients with HIV infections.