# A CCR5 Blocking Antibody as HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

> **NIH NIH R21** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $208,557

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
With 36 million people currently living with HIV worldwide and no vaccine currently available, developing a pre-
exposure prophylactic (PREP) HIV regimen that protects against sexual transmission remains a top global
health priority. Recently, a CCR5 blocking monoclonal antibody, Leronlimab, has shown exceptional safety,
tolerability, and anti-HIV activity in multiple clinical trials. Given that sexual transmission of HIV is almost
exclusively mediated by CCR5-tropic variants, Leronlimab may be extremely effective as a PREP reagent. To
test this hypothesis, we will test the ability of bi-weekly dosed Leronlimab to prevent mucosal acquisition of
SHIV in macaques. In specific aim 1, we will administer Leronlimab and sham every two weeks and challenge
macaques weekly with low dose SHIV intra-rectally. In specific aim 2, we will measure the CCR5 occupancy in
blood and rectal tissues of treated animals. These studies will lay the foundation for testing Leronlimab
clinically as PREP in individuals at high-risk of acquiring HIV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968069
- **Project number:** 5R21AI147723-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonah B. Sacha
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $208,557
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968069

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968069, A CCR5 Blocking Antibody as HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (5R21AI147723-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968069. Licensed CC0.

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