IN-TACKs: a new way to expose and kill hidden HIV-infected cells
Official title: Developmental Potential of IN-TACKs
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11418585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops IN-TACKs, small molecules intended to make hidden HIV-infected cells reveal themselves and die in people living with HIV who are taking antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $267,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI200817-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for eventual trials would be adults living with HIV who are on suppressive ART and interested in cure-directed approaches, though this grant is focused on early development rather than immediate patient treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those not on ART, or individuals with uncontrolled illness or certain medical conditions are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage research.
What this research studies
From your perspective as someone living with HIV, this work aims to create drugs called IN-TACKs that force parts of the virus to activate in a way that triggers death of the infected cell. The team will design and test these compounds in the lab, study how they interact with viral proteins and infected cells, and use cellular and possibly animal models to check safety and activity. The approach builds on earlier TACK compounds that caused premature activation of viral enzymes to kill infected cells. This is early-stage, preclinical development intended to prepare the best candidates for future human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, IN-TACKs could help reduce the hidden HIV reservoir and bring us closer to treatments that permanently control or eliminate HIV infection.
How similar studies have gone: Related RT-TACK compounds have shown promise in laboratory studies by inducing death of infected cells, but IN-TACKs represent a novel variant and have not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
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Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engelman, Alan N. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Engelman, Alan N.
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.