TXU (ANTI-CD7)-POKEWEED ANTIVIRAL PROTEIN AS A POTENT INHIBITOR OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

We have evaluated the clinical potential of TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed an tiviral protein (PAP) immunoconjugate (TXU-PAP) as a new biotherapeuti c anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) agent by evaluating its anti-HIV type 1 (anti-HIV-1) activity in vitro, as well as in a surro gate human peripheral blood lymphocyte-severe combined immunodeficient (Hu-PBL-SCID) mouse model of human AIDS. The present report documents in a side-by-side comparison the superior in vitro anti-HIV-l activit y of TXU-PAP compared to the activities of zidovudine, 2',3'-didehydro -2',3'-dideoxythymidine, unconjugated PAP, and B53-PAP, an anti-CD4-PA P immunoconjugate. Notably, TXU-PAP elicited potent anti-HIV activity in the Hu-PBL-SCID mouse model of human AIDS without any side effects and at doses that were very well tolerated by cynomolgus monkeys. Furt hermore, plasma samples from TXU-PAP-treated cynomolgus monkeys showed potent anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro.