# Cytotoxic immunoconjugates to deplete persistent HIV reservoirs

> **NIH NIH R01** · MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY - BOZEMAN · 2021 · $834,696

## Abstract

We will develop cytotoxic anti-HIV immunoconjugates to eliminate persistent HIV reservoirs. These
molecules aim to kill cells producing infectious HIV. Unconjugated (naked) antibodies can kill cells via
complement and Fc-receptor mediated effects. We hypothesize that cytotoxic immunoconjugates will
prove even more effective than naked mAbs in killing productively-infected cells. They may be used
alone if there is sufficient ongoing virus replication during anti-retroviral therapy (ART)-induced clinical
latency, or in conjunction with latency-disrupting agents in an “activate and purge” protocol.
There are different forms of cytotoxic immunoconjugates, including immunotoxins,
radioimmunoconjugates, and antibody-drug conjugates. Each may have unique advantages or
limitations for the treatment of HIV infection. We have described anti-HIV immunotoxins and antibody-
drug conjugates, identified the best mAbs for targeting them, and shown anti-viral activity in mice and
macaques. We found that while anti-HIV immunotoxins were potentially effective in SHIV-infected
macaques, their utility was limited by immunogenicity. Drug conjugates may be less immunogenic, but
we found them less potent than immunotoxins, and they may only be cytotoxic in dividing cells.
We will optimize the design of anti-HIV immunoconjugates, all based on the same mAbs to HIV Env,
then compare the efficacy of the best immunoconjugates with unconjugated mAbs and irrelevant
conjugates, using the same assays. To do so, we propose the following Specific Aims:
 Aim 1. To optimize design of anti-HIV immunoconjugates using cytotoxicity to compare efficacy.
We will produce less-immunogenic immunotoxins, more potent antibody drug conjugates and 211At-
radioimmunoconjugates and compare them using cytotoxicity on Env-expressing cells.
 Aim 2. To compare conjugates and naked mAbs using primary cell cultures. We will test the
efficacy of immunoconjugates using primary outgrowth cultures from ART-treated patients.
 Aim 3. To compare conjugates and unconjugated mAbs in HIV-infected, ART-treated
immunodeficient mice reconstituted with human hematopoietic tissue. Viremia and tissue virus loads
will be quantified and viral integration analyses performed.
These studies aim to identify the most effective form of immunoconjugate for future testing as a pre-
clinical candidate in SHIV-infected ART treated macaques. These studies also have relevance for the
use of immunoconjugates in other conditions, especially cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10062853
- **Project number:** 5R01AI136758-04
- **Recipient organization:** MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY - BOZEMAN
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert D. Harrington
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $834,696
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10062853

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10062853, Cytotoxic immunoconjugates to deplete persistent HIV reservoirs (5R01AI136758-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10062853. Licensed CC0.

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