Theratechnologies Announces Ibalizumab Inhibits HIV-2 In Vitro

MONTREAL, July 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Theratechnologies Inc. (Theratechnologies) (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce that data presented at the 23^rd International AIDS Conference virtual meeting, demonstrates that ibalizumab is active in vitro against group A and group B HIV-2.

Ibalizumab in vitro activity against HIV-2
The objective of the study, conducted by a team of researchers at Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital and Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris, France, was to assess the phenotypic susceptibility to ibalizumab of HIV-2 clinical isolates.

Phenotypic assays were performed on 6 HIV-2 clinical isolates (2 group A and 4 group B), 1 ROD HIV-2 group A reference strain and 1 BRU HIV-1 group M reference strain.

Phenotypic susceptibility was assessed through 50 percent inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) and Maximum Percent Inhibition (MPI).

Ibalizumab inhibited viral replication in all seven HIV-2 isolates with IC₅₀ ranging from 0.002 to 0.18µg/mL while MPI was below 80 percent in only two strains, between 80 and 90 percent in 1 stain and above 90 percent in 4 strains.

Results obtained in HIV-2 in vitro are similar to those obtained in clinical trials in HIV-1 is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b8b4b7e-7675-41cf ...

“Based on results obtained in vitro, it is expected that ibalizumab could have some efficacy in patients infected with HIV-2. HIV-2 multidrug resistance is on the rise in Europe and West Africa and there are limited therapeutic options, if any. The results obtained by the team of researchers in Paris are good news to patients with HIV-2 as ibalizumab could become an add-on to an optimized background regimen for people with an uncontrolled HIV-2,” said Dr. Christian Marsolais, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Theratechnologies.

HIV-2 is naturally resistant to Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) and to enfuvirtide. In addition, HIV-2 easily develops drug-resistance mutations (DRAMs) to protease, NRTI and integrase inhibitors. Most recent drugs are not recommended for HIV-2 due to lack of efficacy or because they have not been evaluated for HIV-2.

About Ibalizumab
Ibalizumab is a CD4-directed post-attachment HIV-1 inhibitor. In the United States, Ibalizumab, in combination with other antiretroviral(s), is indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection failing their current antiretroviral regimen.