Subject: Repligen, Merck Conduct Study on AIDS Treatment
Date: Published: 10/21/91 (32 lines)
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

    Technology:
    Repligen, Merck Conduct
    Study on AIDS Treatment

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  -- Repligen Corp. said that along with
 Merck & Co. it has conducted two animal studies "indicating
 it may be feasible to develop an anti-infective" against AIDS
 infections in humans.
    Repligen said that in the latest study, a chimpanzee was
 injected with infectious doses of the virus that causes
 acquired immune deficiency syndrome, then later injected with
 a monoclonal antibody that targets a part of the virus called
 the V3 loop.  The animal has remained free of AIDS infection
 since March 1991 when the test was begun, Repligen said.
    In an earlier study, researchers first injected the
 monoclonal antibody into a chimpanzee, then "challenged" the
 animal with an infectious dose of the AIDS virus, Repligen
 said.  The study indicated the antibody has potential to
 prevent AIDS infections before exposure to the virus, the
 company added.
    Both studies are being presented by a Merck researcher at
 an AIDS conference in Marco Island, Fla., Repligen said.
 Human trials of AIDS vaccines based on the work are "at least
 a year away," said a Repligen spokesman.

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