NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Developing a one-time gene therapy to suppress HIV replication.

Official title: Non-viral gene therapy with eCD4-Ig

Funded at Emmune, INC · NIH-11195805 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new type of gene therapy that uses a special protein to help keep HIV under control with just one shot in the muscle, so people living with HIV might not need to take daily medications anymore.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionEmmune, INC
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Juno Beach, UNITED STATES)
Project startJune 17, 2025
Project endMay 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$919,501
NIH project number1R56AI189343-01
Project IDNIH-11195805 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are seeking a more permanent treatment option.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who have advanced AIDS may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a non-viral gene therapy using a therapeutic protein called eCD4-Ig, which aims to provide long-lasting suppression of HIV after a single intramuscular injection. The therapy is designed to counteract the virus's ability to escape neutralizing antibodies, which is a significant challenge in treating HIV. By enhancing the efficiency of gene transfer into skeletal muscle, the researchers hope to maintain effective levels of eCD4-Ig in the body for a lifetime. This innovative approach could potentially eliminate the need for ongoing treatments for HIV.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a long-term solution for managing HIV, significantly improving the quality of life for patients.

How similar studies have gone: While gene therapy for HIV is an emerging field, this specific approach using eCD4-Ig is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.

Where this research is happening

  • Emmune, INC
    Juno Beach, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Quinlan, Brian D — Emmune, INC
  • Study coordinator: Quinlan, Brian D

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Non-viral gene therapy to treat and prevent atherosclerosis (for patients)

    A small biotechnology study is testing a non-viral DNA delivery method using lipid nanoparticles to help prevent and treat atherosclerosis in adults.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-11419318

  • Making eCD4-Ig, a long‑acting HIV medicine

    Developing ways to manufacture eCD4-Ig, a long‑lasting antibody‑like medicine that could help people living with or at risk for HIV.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-11328776

  • Long-acting eCD4-Ig therapy for HIV prevention and treatment

    A FastTrack SBIR grant funds early non-human and IND-enabling tests to develop a long-acting eCD4-Ig protein that could be given every three months to help prevent or treat HIV.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-11312912

  • Developing a long-acting treatment for HIV

    This study is working on a new treatment for HIV that uses a special protein to help your body fight the virus, and it aims to make it easy to take with just a shot every three months.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-11183602

  • Modified COVID-19 booster focused on the virus's receptor-binding domain

    Testing a new COVID-19 booster that uses a modified piece of the virus's spike protein to steer immune protection toward parts that neutralize variants.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-11141131

  • Developing targeted vaccines for COVID-19 variants

    This study is testing a new type of booster vaccine designed to help people who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 by making it better at fighting off different variants of the virus.

    NIH research Emmune, INC · Juno Beach, UNITED STATES · NIH-10909385

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.