Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) replication by immunor (IM²⁸), a new analog of dehydroepiandrosterone

The inhibition of HIV-1 replication in vitro by Immunor 28 (IM28), an analog of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), was monitored using the HIV-1 laboratory wild-type strain IIIB. Evaluation of the 50% inhibitory dose (IC50) revealed a decrease in HIV-1 replication giving an IC50 value around 22 μM. The toxicity of the drug has been determined also, in MT2 cells and PBMCs. 60 μM of IM28 provoked a 50% decrease in cell viability while DHEA caused the same decrease at 75 μM in MT2 cells, These values are 125 μM for IM28, in PBMCs and 135 μM for DHEA. Thus, DHEA is less toxic than IM28, but IM28 has a higher antiviral activity.