New approach to curing HIV


New treatment method being tested in clinical study

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a combination of symptoms that occur as a result of infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and the associated destruction of the immune system. Patients suffer from life-threatening infections and tumors. ® nobeastsofierce/Adobe Stock

Hamburg-based researchers are seeking to improve future treatment of HIV patients using a new gene and cell method. Under the umbrella of Hamburg biotech startup Provirex, they are developing a new therapeutic approach that uses ‘gene scissors’ to cut out the blueprint of the AIDS pathogen HIV from the genome of the infected cell and eliminate the virus. For the first time, this could make it possible to remove the virus instead of keeping it at bay, as is common with previous forms of treatment. The startup will drive further development of Brec1 technology, particularly with regard to simplified and direct routes of administration. A Max Planck technology contributes to innovative basis for the HIV gene scissors.

The concept is based on research by Joachim Hauber and his team at the Heinrich Pette Institute (HPI) – Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology and Frank Buchholz at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and at the Technical University of Dresden. Together they have developed and optimised ‘gene scissors’: the designer recombinase Brec1. The approach is currently being prepared for clinical trials in a collaboration between the HPI and the Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). It will initially be evaluated as part of stem cell therapy involving eight HIV patients at the UKE's Department of Stem Cell Transplantation under the leadership of Nicolaus Kröger. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Hamburg Senate and ForTra gGmbH für Forschungstransfer – the subsidiary of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) – have provided funding and investment resources for this purpose.


Hamburg startup Provirex can make a decisive contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS. This new form of treatment could make it possible to free patient cells from HIV permanently and accurately for the first time, which would be a medical, societal and historical breakthrough on the way to curing HIV and AIDS.

Katharina Fegebank
Senator for Science


This could become a milestone in the fight against HIV. We are delighted that we now have the opportunity here at the UKE campus in Hamburg to develop new treatment methods based on our own research results.

Joachim Hauber
Heinrich Pette Institute (HPI) – Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology


As one of the three technology providers, Max Planck Innovation worked closely and constructively with Ascenion, its main transfer partner, and the Technical University of Dresden on Provirex's licensing right.


We are very pleased that Provirex will promote an innovative approach to clinical trials in HIV treatment for the benefit of affected patients.

Ulrich Mahr
Member of the Management Board of Max Planck Innovation GmbH


About PROVIREX Genome Editing Therapies GmbH

PROVIREX Genome Editing Therapies GmbH in Hamburg is a private biotech company that develops novel advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). PROVIREX's technology is based on recombinase-mediated error-free genome editing to cure life-threatening persistent viral infections. PROVIREX was founded in October 2019 and received seed financing in March 2020. The company holds exclusive technology licenses and has freedom-to-operate (FTO).

Further information: www.provirex.de

About Max Planck Innovation

Max Planck Innovation (MI) is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max Planck Society and, as such, the link between industry and basic research. With an interdisciplinary, team MI advises and supports scientists at Max Planck Institutes in evaluating their inventions, filing patents and founding companies. MI offers industry unique access to the innovations of the Max Planck Institutes. Thus, MI performs an important task: the transfer of basic research results into products that contribute to economic and social progress.

Further information under www.max-planck-innovation.com.

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