Western University Initiative Aims for Equitable Global HIV Cure Access

At Western University, a groundbreaking international collaboration called IMMUNEQUITY is underway, seeking to ensure equitable access to a potential cure for HIV. Led by prominent researchers including Eric Arts, Canada Research Chair in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, the initiative aims to transform how HIV treatments are developed, prioritizing accessibility from the outset.

The Challenge of HIV Inequity

Despite decades of progress in HIV treatment and vaccine development, access to the most advanced therapies remains unequal. Eric Arts, a microbiology and immunology professor at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, notes that “Where you live still determines whether you benefit from medical breakthroughs.” In sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of HIV is highest, access to advanced therapies often lags years or even decades behind wealthier countries. Approximately 40 million people worldwide live with HIV, most requiring lifelong daily medication [1].

IMMUNEQUITY: A New Approach

IMMUNEQUITY, led by Dr. Arts, along with researchers from multiple disciplines at Western University and partner institutions including the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, is reimagining HIV cure development. The team includes experts in medical biophysics, engineering, law, and stem cell engineering [1]. The core mission is to integrate scientific innovation, affordability, manufacturability, and equitable accessibility as inseparable goals.

Reversing the Order of Innovation

Currently, the only proven cure for HIV involves hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a complex, risky, and expensive procedure costing over $350,000 per patient. IMMUNEQUITY aims to reverse the traditional order of development – developing cures first and then addressing accessibility – by prioritizing affordability and scalability from the beginning. This involves focusing on ‘biologics,’ such as antibodies and virus-like particles, which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapies, particularly in low-income countries [1].

‘Kick and Kill’ Strategy and Frugal Innovation

At the scientific core of IMMUNEQUITY is a ‘kick and kill’ strategy. This involves activating hidden HIV reservoirs within the body (‘kick’) and then eliminating the exposed infected cells (‘kill’). Researchers will leverage Western’s Frugal Biomedical Innovations program to rethink the design and development of tools for manufacturing biotherapeutics and for diagnosis and monitoring of HIV, ensuring affordability and sustainability [1].

Community Engagement and Intellectual Property

IMMUNEQUITY emphasizes community engagement, working alongside people living with HIV in Canada and Uganda to ensure legal, social, ethical, and cultural contexts shape the project. Bassem Awad, a law professor at Western, will lead the development of an intellectual property strategy to prevent legal barriers to treatment deployment and support manufacturing in sub-Saharan Africa [1].

Leveraging Ugandan Partnerships

The initiative builds on Dr. Arts’ longstanding partnership with Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza and her team at the JCRC in Uganda, where technologies will be co-developed and tested. This partnership was formalized in 2022 with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for interdisciplinary education, training, and research [1].

Canadian and International Collaboration

IMMUNEQUITY also involves collaboration with researchers from Université de Montreal, University of Manitoba, and Western’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, and the Ivey Business School. Canadian organizations like SHC Therapeutics Inc. And the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) will contribute expertise in biomanufacturing. The Pathogen Research Centre, currently under construction at Western Research Parks, will play a crucial role in the initiative [1].

A New Model for Biomedical Innovation

IMMUNEQUITY represents a fundamental shift in scientific thinking, prioritizing equitable access as a driving principle from the start. If successful, this model could extend beyond HIV to address other infectious diseases and chronic conditions in low- and middle-income countries. As Dr. Arts states, “The best cure in the world is meaningless if it cannot be produced at a large scale and affordable cost in resource-limited settings, because otherwise people cannot safely access it.”