# An IL-15 superagonist approach to clear the latent viral reservoir

> **NIH NIH R33** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $485,734

## Abstract

SUMMARY
With 34 million people currently living with HIV worldwide, developing a modality to induce an HIV functional
cure is a top global health priority. We have recently discovered that 1) broadly neutralizing antibodies are able
to potently eliminate the viral reservoir, and 2) that an IL-15 superagonist, ALT-803, is able to both reverse viral
latency and activate natural killer cells in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesize that combining ALT-803 with broadly
neutralizing antibodies under cover of cART can clear the latent reservoir. To investigate this intriguing idea, in
specific aim 1 of the R21, we will establish the ability of ALT-803 to reactivate latent virus in the macaque
model of HIV. In specific aim 2, we will determine if ALT-803 activated NK cells can mediate antibody-
dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity on infected cells. If successful, we will combine ALT-803 with broadly
neutralizing antibodies under cover of cART in the R33 phase. Successful completion of these studies could
define an entirely new approach to clearing the latent reservoir.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065757
- **Project number:** 4R33AI128970-03
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonah B. Sacha
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $485,734
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065757

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065757, An IL-15 superagonist approach to clear the latent viral reservoir (4R33AI128970-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065757. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*