Gilead Invests $21 Million in 2-vector Arenaviral HIV Therapeutic Vaccine Candidate

HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. today announced that Gilead Sciences has purchased 15 million shares of the company's common stock for approximately $21.25 million, for $1.4167 per share.

This transaction closed on December 20, 2023, indicating Gilead's total ownership in HOOKIPA's Common Stock is approximately 19.4%.

In addition, HOOKIPA has other transaction rights.

Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer at HOOKIPA, commented in a press release on December 21, 2023. "Together, we have made meaningful progress in finding a potential functional cure for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)."

"Most recently, we received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of our Investigational New Drug application for HB-500 and are excited to begin our Phase 1 trial in the first half of 2024."

HB-500 is an alternating, 2-vector arenaviral therapeutic vaccine that is being evaluated as part of a potential curative regimen for HIV.

One vector is based on lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus as its arenaviral backbone; another vector is based on the Pichinde virus.

Both encode the same HIV antigens.

HOOKIPA is responsible for advancing the HIV program through the completion of a Phase 1b clinical trial. Gilead has the exclusive right to assume further development of the program thereafter.

As of December 22, 2023, there are several HIV vaccine candidates conducting research, but none have been approved. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, HIV vaccine candidates can not cause an HIV infection.