What is Gammora? Does it cure HIV?
According to Zion Medical,
Gammora is a synthetic peptide compound derived from the HIV enzyme integrase, which is responsible for inserting the virus's genetic material into the DNA of the infected cell. Gammora stimulates the integration of multiple HIV DNA fragments into the host cell's genomic DNA, to an extent that triggers the self-destruction of the infected cell, called apoptosis.”
The drug appears to be a broad-spectrum disrupter of viral replication (like ribavirin, a drug previously used in hepatitis C treatment). It might work to limit viral proliferation in established infection and the infection of further cells (as other antiretroviral drugs do).
However, there is no reason it would be active against the reservoir of latently infected cells (which already contain integrated HIV DNA). If it could cure, it would need to be active against the latent reservoir.
-aidsmap
