Data Shows Utility of Small Molecule Telomerase Activators for HIV/AIDS

Geron has presented studies showing that its small molecule telomerase activators, GRN139951 and GRN140665, enhance the functional activity of immune cells from HIV/AIDS donors.

The research demonstrated that the Geron compounds increased the proliferative capacity of cytotoxic T-cells and their ability to produce a virus-fighting molecule, gamma Interferon (IFN(gamma)).

During the progression of HIV disease, certain immune cells called CD8 + cytotoxic T-cells undergo accelerated replicative senescence (cellular aging), and lose their ability to proliferate and kill HIV-infected CD4+ T-cells. Previous work demonstrated that introducing the telomerase gene into CD8+ cells from HIV/AIDS donors increased their proliferative capacity, their ability to produce IFN(gamma), and their ability to inhibit viral replication and kill HIV-infected T-cells.

The new work showed that Geron's small molecule telomerase activators have similar properties. Specifically, the studies indicated that both GRN139951 and GRN140665 stimulated T-cell proliferation and IFN(gamma) production. Preliminary data also suggested that these molecules could increase the cytolytic (killing capacity) of CD8+ T-cells taken from a person infected with HIV.