An ongoing Phase 1 human trial in Tanzania is evaluating the safety and antiviral activity of a novel bispecific antibody, alone and in combination with another potent monoclonal antibody, to combat HIV. Enrollment was completed last Fall, and follow-up visits will continue into Spring 2026. MHRP investigators will deliver early findings from the trial during an oral presentation at the 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
MHRP’s research partners at Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research - Mbeya Medical Research Center are conducting the study called RV584. WRAIR has been working in Tanzania on countermeasure development for infectious diseases since 2001, and its research is conducted in close collaboration with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital.
Bispecific antibodies are lab-engineered antibodies designed to target two distinct binding sites on immune cells or virus envelopes. These molecules can neutralize HIV with improved breadth and potency, and they can be used as both preventive and therapeutic countermeasures.
The trial is also exploring fixed dosing and the safety of intramuscular injection to deliver these mAbs, important advantages for future potential use in remote settings where medical infrastructure may be limited.