CytoDyn Abstract by Dr. Jonah Sacha for Use of Leronlimab as PrEP is Accepted by the Keystone Symposia on HIV Pathogenesis and Cure

The poster and oral presentation will highlight the role of the CCR5 antibody in preventing macaques from intrarectal Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV)

Based on these strong results, CytoDyn has partnered with the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre (TRCARC) to conduct clinical trials evaluating the potential of leronlimab to prevent HIV; trial could begin this year

VANCOUVER, Washington, Jan. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (OTC.QB: CYDY), (“CytoDyn” or the “Company"), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, today announced the acceptance of an abstract detailing the advantages of the CCR5 antibody, leronlimab, to prevent macaques from intrarectal Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV) at the Keystone Symposia on HIV Pathogenesis and Cure in Keystone, Colorado from March 22-26, 2020.

Details of the oral presentation are as follows:

Presentation Title: Antibody-Mediated CCR5 Blockade Recapitulates the CCR5 Deficiency-Mediated Protection from Sexual HIV Acquisition
Presenter: Xiao Lan Chang, Oregon Health & Science University
Presentation Date and Time: Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 2:30 p.m. MT – 4:30 p.m. MT

Additional details can be found on the conference website.

Dr. Jonah Sacha, Ph.D., Professor at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at the Oregon Health & Science University and senior science advisor to CytoDyn, commented, “In the absence of a prophylactic vaccine, the use of antiretroviral medications as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV acquisition by uninfected individuals is a promising approach to slowing the epidemic. Unfortunately, negative side effects, viral resistance, and regimen adherence severely limit PrEP efficacy. Therefore, the development of new, highly effective, and long-acting PrEP modalities with high patient uptake is urgently needed. The scientific premise for leronlimab-based PrEP is founded on the long-standing observation that CCR5-deficient individuals are extremely resistant to HIV infection. The results presented here demonstrate that leronlimab treatment is able to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. Given leronlimab’s excellent safety profile, this finding paves the way for a new, patient-friendly PrEP regimen.”