Monoclonal antibodies are engineered proteins derived from a single parent cell and have been used in a diverse range of therapeutic applications due to their versatility and specificity. At Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc., we believe monoclonal antibodies are promising candidates for multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) when formulated as topical (e.g., films and rings) or injectable products. Systemic antibodies may have multiple effector functions – like complement binding (CDC) and binding to monocytes (ADCC) – while mucosal mechanisms agglutination and trapping in mucus are less widely discussed, but are crucial for the protection of mucosal surfaces. Systemically and mucosally delivered antibodies have demonstrated efficacy in SHIV prevention studies. In this post, we describe some of the important progress to date on monoclonal antibodies as future MPTs.

HIV prevention has come to the forefront of youth activism and public health advocacy, as young people aged 15-24 account for 35% of new HIV infections worldwide. In fact, as we work to curb the HIV epidemic, they are the only age group to experience a recent increase in HIV infections. Young people are disproportionately impacted by HIV and face unique challenges in protecting their sexual health as they navigate complex biological and social transitions into adulthood. In that spirit, the FDA recently approved PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for adolescents, which has huge implications for empowering young people to prevent HIV exposure or transmission.

The field of MPTs that combine hormonal contraception (HC) and antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention has made substantial progress in the past several years. There are two such MPTs in phase I clinical trials: 1) IPM’s dapivirine and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring and 2) CONRAD’s tenofovir and levonorgestrel intravaginal ring – with several other HC + ARV MPT products on the cusp in various stages of preclinical development.