(ANSA) - ROME, OCTOBER 22 - The first long-acting monoclonal antibody (ibalizumab) against HIV is available in Italy.
The novelty was announced at the ICAR - Italian Conference on AIDS and Antiviral Research Congress, taking place in Riccione.
It was in fact published on October 19 in the Official Gazette the determination of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa). Ibalizumab, in combination with one or other antiretrovirals, is indicated for the treatment of adults with drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection for whom a suppressive antiviral regimen cannot otherwise be established.
Ibalizumab, a monoclonal antibody, acts with an innovative mechanism of action: it blocks the infection of CD4 + T lymphocytes by HIV-1 by interfering with the post-binding steps necessary for the entry of HIV-1 virus particles in host cells.
In doing so, it prevents viral transmission that occurs through cell-to-cell fusion.
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