Recent Publications

Long-acting injectable atovaquone nanomedicines for malaria prophylaxis

Citation: 

Bakshi RP, Tatham LM, Savage AC, et al. Long-acting injectable atovaquone nanomedicines for malaria prophylaxis. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):315. Published 2018 Jan 22. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-02603-z. PMID: 29358624, PMCID: PMC5778127.

Chemoprophylaxis is currently the best available prevention from malaria, but its efficacy is compromised by non-adherence to medication. Here we develop a long-acting injectable formulation of atovaquone solid drug nanoparticles that confers long-lived prophylaxis against Plasmodium berghei ANKA malaria in C57BL/6 mice. Protection is obtained at plasma concentrations above 200 ng ml-1 and is causal, attributable to drug activity against liver stage parasites

    Long-acting formulations for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection: opportunities and challenges

    Date: 
    2/15/18
    Citation: 

    Swindells S, Siccardi M, Barrett SE, et al. Long-acting formulations for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection: opportunities and challenges. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Feb 1; 22(2): 125–132. PMID: 29506608; PMCID: PMC6103451.

    Long-acting/extended-release drug formulations have proved very successful in diverse areas of medicine, including contraception, psychiatry and, most recently, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Though challenging, application of this technology to anti-tuberculosis treatment could have substantial impact. 

    Health Topics: 
    HIV
    LA/ER Injectable Therapy
    Tuberculosis

      Development of an oral once-weekly drug delivery system for HIV antiretroviral therapy

      Date: 
      1/9/18
      Citation: 

      Kirtane AR, Abouzid O, Minahan D, et al. Development of an oral once-weekly drug delivery system for HIV antiretroviral therapy. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):2. Published 2018 Jan 9. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-02294-6. PMID: 29317618; PMCID: PMC5760734.

      The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy is significantly compromised by medication non-adherence. Long-acting enteral systems that can ease the burden of daily adherence have not yet been developed.

      Health Topics: 
      HIV
      LA/ER Oral Therapy

        From in silico hit to long-acting late-stage preclinical candidate to combat HIV-1 infection

        Date: 
        12/26/17
        Citation: 

        Kudalkar SN, Beloor J, Quijano E, et al. From in silico hit to long-acting late-stage preclinical candidate to combat HIV-1 infection [published correction appears in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Mar 12;:]. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018;115(4):E802-E811. doi:10.1073/pnas.1717932115. PMID: 29279368; PMCID: PMC5789948.

        Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that target the viral polymerase have been a key component of the current HIV-1 combination drug regimens; however, these issues hamper them. Thus, the development of novel more effective NNRTIs as anti-HIV-1 agents with fewer long-term liabilities, efficacy on new drug-resistant HIV-1 strains, and less frequent dosing is crucial.

        Health Topics: 
        HIV

          Multimodal imaging approach to examine biodistribution kinetics of Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) long acting parenteral formulation in rat

          Date: 
          12/28/17
          Citation: 

          Jucker BM, Alsaid H, Rambo M, et al. Multimodal imaging approach to examine biodistribution kinetics of Cabotegravir (GSK1265744) long acting parenteral formulation in rat. J Control Release. 2017;268:102-112. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.10.017. PMID: 29042321.

          Long-Acting Parenterals (LAPs) have been used in the clinic to provide sustained therapeutic drug levels at a target site, and thereby reducing the frequency of dosing required. In an effort to understand the factors associated with long-acting cabotegravir (GSK1265744 LAP) pharmacokinetic variability, the current study was designed to investigate the temporal relationship between intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) drug depot morphology and distribution kinetics with plasma pharmacokinetics.

          Health Topics: 
          HIV
          LA/ER Implantable Therapy
          LA/ER Injectable Therapy

            Creation of a nanoformulated cabotegravir prodrug with improved antiretroviral profiles

            Date: 
            1/15/18
            Citation: 

            Zhou T, Su H, Dash P, et al. Creation of a nanoformulated cabotegravir prodrug with improved antiretroviral profiles. Biomaterials. 2018;151:53-65. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.023. PMID: 29059541; PMCID: PMC5926202.

            Long-acting parenteral (LAP) antiretroviral drugs have generated considerable interest for treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection. One new LAP is cabotegravir (CAB), a highly potent integrase inhibitor, with a half-life of up to 54 days, allowing for every other month parenteral administrations. Despite this excellent profile, high volume dosing, injection site reactions and low body fluid drug concentrations affect broad use for virus infected and susceptible people.

            Health Topics: 
            HIV
            LA/ER Injectable Therapy

              Potential Clinical and Economic Value of Long-Acting Preexposure Prophylaxis for South African Women at High-Risk for HIV Infection

              Date: 
              5/15/16
              Citation: 

              Walensky RP, Jacobsen MM, Bekker LG, et al. Potential Clinical and Economic Value of Long-Acting Preexposure Prophylaxis for South African Women at High-Risk for HIV Infection. J Infect Dis. 2016;213(10):1523-1531. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiv523. PMID: 26681778; PMCID: PMC4837902.

              For young South African women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is one of the few effective prevention options available. Long-acting injectable PrEP, which is in development, may be associated with greater adherence, compared with that for existing standard oral PrEP formulations, but its likely clinical benefits and additional costs are unknown.

              Health Topics: 
              HIV
              Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

                Long-Acting Injectable Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in South Africa: Is There a Will and a Way?

                Date: 
                5/15/16
                Citation: 

                Landovitz RJ, Grinsztejn B. Long-Acting Injectable Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in South Africa: Is There a Will and a Way?. J Infect Dis. 2016;213(10):1519-1520. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiv524. PMID: 26681779.

                Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antiretroviral therapy (ART) use results in substantial improvements in HIV-related morbidity and mortality [1, 2] and leads to dramatic reductions in sexual transmission of HIV among heterosexual serodiscordant couples when ART suppresses HIV viremia in the infected partner [3]. 

                Health Topics: 
                HIV
                Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

                  Nanodrug formulations to enhance HIV drug exposure in lymphoid tissues and cells: clinical significance and potential impact on treatment and eradication of HIV/AIDS

                  Date: 
                  2/9/16
                  Citation: 

                  Shao J, Kraft JC, Li B, et al. Nanodrug formulations to enhance HIV drug exposure in lymphoid tissues and cells: clinical significance and potential impact on treatment and eradication of HIV/AIDS. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2016;11(5):545-564. doi:10.2217/nnm.16.1. PMID: 26892323; PMCID: PMC4910949.

                  Although oral combination antiretroviral therapy effectively clears plasma HIV, patients on oral drugs exhibit much lower drug concentrations in lymph nodes than blood. This drug insufficiency is linked to residual HIV in cells of lymph nodes. While nanoformulations improve drug solubility, safety and delivery, most HIV nanoformulations are intended to extend plasma levels.

                  Health Topics: 
                  HIV

                    New perspectives on nanotechnology and antiretroviral drugs: a ‘small’ solution for a big promise in HIV treatment?

                    Date: 
                    3/27/16
                    Citation: 

                    Corsi F, Fiandra L, Rizzardini G. New perspectives on nanotechnology and antiretroviral drugs: a 'small' solution for a big promise in HIV treatment?. AIDS. 2016;30(6):963-964. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001026. PMID: 26807964.

                    In this issue, Li et al.[1] present a well designed multidisciplinary study, aimed to demonstrate the potential benefit of a multifunctional polymeric nanodevice for delivering HIV treatment.

                    Health Topics: 
                    HIV
                    LA/ER Implantable Therapy

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