Gilead’s capsid revolution meets our capsid solutions: Sino Biological – Engineering the tools to outsmart HIV
High-quality HIV antigens for cutting-edge solutions.
On February 18, 2025, Gilead Sciences (CA, US) announced a significant milestone: the US FDA accepted their New Drug Applications (NDAs) for lenacapavir (LEN), a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The FDA granted priority review, with a decision expected by 19 June 2025. LEN represents a novel class of HIV therapies by targeting the viral capsid, a multifunctional protein essential for HIV replication. Unlike traditional antiretrovirals that target enzymes such as reverse transcriptase or protease, LEN binds directly to the capsid protein, disrupting several critical steps in the virus’s life cycle.
Sino Biological is proud to support this era of progress with its industry-leading recombinant HIV antigen products. As the fight against HIV evolves, Sino Biological’s high-quality antigens empower researchers, vaccine developers and diagnostic innovators to stay ahead of the curve.
Mechanism of action
LEN is a first-in-class, long-acting HIV-1 capsid inhibitor that disrupts multiple stages of the viral replication cycle. By binding to the capsid protein, it blocks the nuclear import of HIV-1 proviral DNA, preventing its integration into the host genome. Additionally, it disrupts capsid core formation, resulting in structurally defective virions, and interferes with Gag/Gag-Pol function, reducing proper virus assembly and release. This multistage inhibition gives LEN potent antiviral activity, even against drug-resistant HIV-1 strains. Administered subcutaneously every six months after an oral lead-in phase, its extended half-life (8–12 weeks) ensures sustained viral suppression, offering a promising option for individuals with multidrug-resistant HIV or those seeking alternatives to daily therapy (Figure 1).
Why choose Sino Biological HIV antigens?
- Premium quality: Recombinant HIV antigens, including envelope glycoproteins, reverse transcriptase enzymes and capsid proteins, are produced with rigorous purity and functionality standards, ensuring reliable results.
- Versatile applications: Ideal for vaccine research, assay development and drug screening studies.
- Trusted partner: With years of expertise, Sino Biological delivers consistent, scalable products to accelerate your HIV projects.
Featured product: HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein
- Highly purified, biologically active
- Ideal for drug screening, assay development and vaccine research
- Available in bulk for large-scale projects
Research application
Sino Biological products are frequently cited in well-reputed journals. For instance, Chaoyong Yang, Dan Liu and colleagues used recombinant HIV capsid protein p24 (Sino Biological) and an HIV-1 p24 ELISA Pair Set to develop a gold nanorod (AuNR)-based microfluidic-integrated multicolor immunosensor for HIV-1 p24 detection with patients’ serum samples. Their study demonstrated that increased levels of HIV-1 p24 are detectable within 1-2 weeks after infection (Figure 2) [1].
In another study, Rachel McKendry and collaborators developed novel nanobodies to detect HIV-1 p24. They assessed these nanobodies’ ability to detect multiple p24 subtypes using an indirect ELISA with purified recombinant HIV-1 p24 proteins, including Group M subtype D, as well as Groups N and O (Sino Biological) (Figure 3) [2].
Additionally, Lin Li and coworkers discovered that a glycosylated dihydrochalcone, trilobatin, inhibits HIV-1 entry by blocking the gp41 pocket-forming site. They further evaluated the possible mechanisms of action in gp120-mediated HIV-1 entry and found that trilobatin did not bind to the gp120 envelope. In contrast, the positive control, HP-OVA, bound to HIV gp120 (Sino Biological) in an ELISA assay (Figure 4)3.
Sino Biological is dedicated to fostering collaborations that drive impactful breakthroughs in HIV and other viral research. Leveraging our high-quality reagents and cutting-edge technologies, they are committed to supporting your scientific endeavors. For more information on our virus-related solutions, please visit their website: https://www.sinobiological.com.
References
About Sino Biological
Sino Biological is a global leader in protein and antibody research, specializing in the production of high-quality recombinant proteins and antibodies for life sciences research and innovative drug development. Headquartered in Beijing, Sino Biological was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s ChiNext board in August 2021 (stock code: 301047). As a national high-tech enterprise, the company has developed five core technology platforms, advancing biological reagent research centered around proteins and antibodies. Sino Biological offers over 74,000 stocked products, including nearly 9000 recombinant proteins, 14,000+ antibodies, 50,000 genes and a series of high-performance serum-free media products. The company also operates a one-stop CRO service platform covering gene cloning, protein expression, antibody development, production and quality control research. With its expertise, Sino Biological has successfully developed complex reagents, such as full-length membrane proteins, kinases, phosphorylated antibodies and GMP-grade cytokines, establishing the world’s leading recombinant protein and antibody library based on human cell expression.