CD4-like drugs that expose and disable HIV's outer coat so antibodies can kill infected cells
Probing functional HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein conformations with novel potent CD4-mimetic compounds
Small CD4-mimic molecules are being made to force open HIV’s outer protein so antibodies can better find and destroy infected cells, potentially helping people with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113854 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have HIV, this project is creating tiny molecules that latch onto the virus’s envelope protein and make it change shape. Those changes block the virus from entering cells and reveal hidden sites that antibodies can bind. The team will design and test different CD4-mimetic compounds in the lab and in animal models to find the most potent ones. Promising compounds will be studied for how well they work together with antibodies to reduce infected cells or prevent infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future participants would be people living with HIV, particularly those on suppressive antiretroviral therapy who still have residual infected cells.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those whose virus has rare mutations that prevent CD4-mimetic binding are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these compounds could help shrink the reservoir of HIV-infected cells and make antibody-based treatments or prevention more effective.
How similar studies have performed: Related CD4-mimetic compounds have shown promising results in humanized mice and monkey models, but human use remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sodroski, Joseph G — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Sodroski, Joseph G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.