Pfizer和Monogram合作推广HIV趋化性检测法

 
Pfizer公司(New York, NY, USA)和Monogram生物科学公司(South San Francisco, CA, USA)已经宣布了 一项非排他性合作项目，将Monogram公司的HIV共同受体趋化性检测在全球范围内推广。该检测是一项诊断工具，显示趋向性，这是病毒进入人CD4细胞的途径。

CD4或者T细胞是一种能够保护机体免于感染的特定免疫细胞。HIV攻击这些类型的细胞，并利用它们复制更多拷贝的HIV。在此过程中CD4细胞不能发挥保护机体的正常功能。开始的时候机体能够制造更多T细胞，但是最终有功能的T细胞数量锐减。这就削弱了免疫系统，导致机体面临各种感染的危险。

趋化性信息能够帮助鉴别最有可能对CCR5拮抗剂产生反应的患者。这是一组被设计用于阻断病毒通过CCR5共同受体进入体内的药物。研究显示80-85%刚诊断为HIV以及既往没有接受HIV治疗的患者，绝大多数是 therapy have the dominant CCR5趋向性病毒。在以前接受过抗逆转录药物治疗的患者中下降为50-60%。

Pfizer and Monogram Collaborate on HIV Tropism Assay
 
Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA) and Monogram Biosciences (South San Francisco, CA, USA) have announced a non-exclusive collaboration to make Monogram’s HIV co-receptor tropism assay available for use on a global basis. The assay is a diagnostic tool to show tropism, the path taken by the virus to access human CD4 cells.

CD4 or T-cells are specialized immune cells that help protect the body from infection. HIV attacks these types of cells and uses them to make more copies of HIV. In doing so, the CD4 cell becomes unable to do its job of protecting the body. At first, the body can make more T-cells but eventually the number of working T-cells decreases. This weakens the immune system and leaves the body at risk for different types of infections.

Tropism information helps identify patients most likely to respond to CCR5 antagonists. These are a class of drugs designed to block viral entry through the CCR5 co-receptor. Studies have shown that 80-85% of patients newly diagnosed with HIV and previously untreated with HIV therapy have the dominant CCR5-tropic virus. This drops to 50-60% in patients who have been treated before with anti-retroviral medicines.