Viva-Thera and XtalPi Reach Preclinical Milestone in HIV Research

The newly nominated candidate targets the MPER-TMD-CT region, a critical component of the virus's membrane-fusion machinery. Because this sequence remains roughly 90% identical across various viral strains, it offers a promising, broad-spectrum target for intervention. Viva-Thera’s founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Qingshan Fu, utilized solution nuclear magnetic resonance to secure the first atomic-resolution structure of this region, providing the foundation for XtalPi’s computational modeling.

By deploying generative AI, the team screened approximately 10 million compounds to isolate five validated hits. This rapid iteration allowed the partners to optimize the leads and reach preclinical nomination in a fraction of the time required by standard R&D. The resulting small-molecule candidate binds to a site distinct from existing reverse-transcriptase and protease inhibitors, offering a potential lifeline for patients who have developed resistance to current HIV treatment regimens.

Beyond this lead candidate, Viva-Thera is leveraging the XtalPi platform to advance a broader HIV strategy. Its vaccine program has already shown promise in rhesus macaques, where MPER immunogens elicited antibody levels five times higher than conventional comparators. Simultaneously, the company is developing gene-therapy tools using a non-replicating vector to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 to CD4+ T cells, aiming to address the persistent viral reservoirs that prevent a complete cure. These parallel efforts are supported by XtalPi’s robotic automation, which ensures high-throughput testing and constant refinement of the company’s diverse therapeutic modalities.