John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
A compound known as EBC-46, previously recognized for its cancer-fighting properties, is now showing potential in the fight against HIV. A study led by researchers at Stanford University suggests that EBC-46 could play a significant role in eradicating HIV infections.
The research highlights EBC-46's ability to activate dormant cells harboring HIV, allowing them to be targeted and eliminated through immunotherapies. This "kick and kill" approach could potentially lead to a permanent cure for HIV. "We’re pleased to report that EBC-46 performed extremely well in preclinical experiments as part of a ‘kick and kill’ therapeutic," said Paul Wender, senior author of the study and Bergstrom Professor of Chemistry at Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences.
The study was published on January 24 in Science Advances. It included contributions from Stanford-affiliated researchers Zachary Gentry, Owen McAteer, and Jennifer Hamad, along with collaborators from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
EBC-46, technically known as tigilanol tiglate, was discovered by QBiotics through automated drug screening. The compound is derived from the blushwood tree found only in Australia's tropical northeast. On a biological level, it binds to protein kinase C (PKC), an enzyme involved in several diseases including AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer's.
Since HIV emerged over 40 years ago, nearly 90 million people have been infected globally. While antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) have transformed HIV into a manageable condition rather than a lethal one, they remain costly and require lifelong adherence.
Wender emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of approximately 40 million people living with HIV worldwide: “Part of the solution to the global HIV problem is addressing the 40 million people who are HIV positive."
The researchers tested 15 analogs of EBC-46 on latent HIV-infected cells. Some analogs were able to reverse latency in 90% of treated cells—a significant improvement over existing agents like bryostatin.
Following promising results with cell models, Wender's team is extending their research into animal models with hopes for future human clinical trials. “The fact that we may be able to make a dramatic difference in people’s lives with EBC-46 is what keeps us up late at night and gets us up early in the morning,” Wender stated.
Co-authors include Jose A. Moran and Matthew D. Marsden from UCI and Jocelyn T. Kim and Jerome A. Zack from UCLA.
This article was originally published by Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences.
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