bNAbs may reduce infant HIV infections by 42%

A new study suggests that a preventive HIV therapy could be affordable and effective for infants born to HIV-positive mothers. HIV can weaken the immune system and is transmitted during childbirth and breastfeeding. Despite efforts to reduce transmission rates, around 130,000 children were infected with HIV globally in 2023. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital examined the use of long-acting treatments called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) for infants. They tested their effectiveness using a computer simulation in high-prevalence places like Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The study revealed that bNAbs could prevent up to 42% of new infant HIV infections. It also indicated that offering bNAbs during breastfeeding might save costs compared to current standard treatments. In regions with high maternal HIV rates, such as South Africa, giving bNAbs to all infants could be an effective strategy. The results aim to guide funding and policy decisions for HIV prevention initiatives. As bNAb treatments become available, these findings will help determine how to best implement them in high-risk areas around the world.