HIV reservoir-clearance with a targeted bispecific antibody
Official title: Optimizing SIV reservoir depletion by Tendel bsAb-98
Funded at Tendel Therapies INC. · NIH-11393188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new therapy using a CD3-CCR5 bispecific antibody aims to help people living with HIV by shrinking the body’s HIV reservoir.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tendel Therapies INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kensington, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $999,990 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI192249-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults living with HIV who could participate in future human studies once approved for early-phase trials.
✕Less likely to help
Early non-human studies and preclinical steps may not benefit patients directly until human testing begins.
What this research studies
This project focuses on developing bsAb-98 to target CCR5+ reservoir cells and recruit cytotoxic T cells to destroy them. It builds on preclinical results in infant macaques showing remission and strong reservoir reduction, with mathematical models suggesting very large depletion of reservoir cells. The plan includes improving manufacturing, testing efficacy in adult animals, and exploring combination with a vaccine to support future human trials. The goal is to create a safe, effective data package to support first-in-human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could move HIV treatment closer to eradicating the viral reservoir and enabling longer remission.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work in non-human primates shows promising reservoir depletion and remission signals, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Tendel Therapies INC.
Kensington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sparger, Ellen Elizabeth — Tendel Therapies INC.
- Study coordinator: Sparger, Ellen Elizabeth
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.