Funded by Global Health EDCTP3 and the European Union, the project brings together 21 partners across Africa, Europe and the United States to improve early HIV treatment outcomes in infants.
Africa Health Research Institute is proud to be a partner in the ‘Early Neutralising Antibodies in Infants Living with HIV to Enhance their Life’ (ENABLE) consortium. Funded by Global Health EDCTP3 and the European Union (GA 101190620), the four-year project brings together 21 leading research institutions from Africa, Europe and the United States, coordinated by the Servicio Madrileño de Salud (SERMAS, Madrid, Spain) and represented by Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.
ENABLE will investigate whether broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) added to antiretrovirals can help achieve earlier viral control in infants diagnosed with HIV. Despite progress in HIV care, major gaps remain: in sub-Saharan Africa, only about half of infants born with HIV receive early antiretroviral therapy, and more than 10% die within the first year after diagnosis, even when antiretroviral treatment is started early. Viral suppression remains a major challenge, with only 25 –50% of infants reaching undetectable viral levels in routine care.
Through the clinical trial led in South Africa, Mozambique and Cameroon, the project will evaluate whether administering two broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) alongside standard antiretroviral therapy can improve viral suppression in infants. The project will also evaluate patients’ markers, especially related to remission/cure biomarkers – such as immune responses, viral reservoir, and biological molecule levels – to identify factors linked to better protection, while also studying how long antibodies stay in the body and what levels are needed for effective treatment.
As part of the ENABLE consortium, the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), under the leadership of Dr Kavidha Reddy and Professor Thumbi Ndung’u, will lead the exploratory research sub studies work package. AHRI will coordinate related activities across trial and research sites, including HIV reservoir studies, neutralisation sensitivity assays, and immunophenotyping. These studies will provide critical insights into the biological and immunological factors associated with treatment response and potential remission in infants living with HIV.
Engagement with communities, caregivers, and healthcare providers will be conducted to assess how acceptable bNAb-based treatments for children would be and to identify factors that could affect their future adoption.
The ENABLE consortium held its kick-off meeting in February 2026 in Cape Town, marking the start of a collaborative effort to advance innovative treatment strategies for infants living with HIV.
The project is supported by the Global Health EDCTP3 and its members under the Grant Agreement 101190620. Co-funded by the European Union.
Top photo: AHRI’s Dr Kavidha Reddy and Professor Thumbi Ndung’u.