Monoclonal antibodies for prevention or treatment of HIV-1 infection: what next after the first clinical trials?

The therapeutic revolution of monoclonal antibodies is spreading to the field of infectious diseases. After many years of academic research to isolate and characterize the first HIV-neutralizing antibodies, a few molecules are entering the final stages of clinical trials and the industrial development pipelines of several pharmaceutical companies. These neutralizing antibodies, also known as bNAbs (broadly neutralizing antibodies), have a broad spectrum of activity, allowing us to hope for pan-genotypic or near pan-genotypic efficacy, a sine qua non for lasting antiviral efficacy. Following the failures of the different vaccine strategies tried until now, what can neutralizing antibodies offer us in the prevention of HIV infection? Can these biotherapies find their place in the management of HIV-infected patients? This article will shed light on recent data from clinical trials of the main anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies in development for use in prophylaxis and therapy.