IAP086

IAP086 is an investigational small molecule Smac mimetic and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) antagonist developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is primarily being researched as a latency-reversing agent (LRA) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The drug works by binding to and antagonizing cellular IAPs, specifically cIAP1 and cIAP2, which triggers their degradation and leads to the activation of the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. In the context of HIV, this activation is intended to shock latent viral reservoirs into expressing viral proteins, thereby making the infected cells visible to the immune system or susceptible to targeted clearance. IAP086 is currently in Phase 1 clinical development to assess its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in individuals with HIV-1 who are virologically suppressed on antiretroviral therapy (ART).