raltegravir + hyper-immune bovine colostrum

Raltegravir + hyper-immune bovine colostrum is an investigational combination therapy that was studied for its effect on CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-1 infected individuals with suboptimal immune responses despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). The combination consists of two components: raltegravir, an antiretroviral drug, and hyper-immune bovine colostrum. Raltegravir, sold under the brand name Isentress, is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor that prevents the HIV virus from inserting its genetic material into the DNA of human cells, thereby blocking viral replication. [1, 2] Hyper-immune bovine colostrum is a product derived from the first milk of cows that have been immunized against specific pathogens. It is rich in antibodies (immunoglobulins) and other immune factors, and was investigated for its potential to improve immune function, possibly by providing passive immunity in the gut and reducing inflammation. [13, 16] A clinical trial sponsored by the Kirby Institute evaluated the effect of adding raltegravir and/or hyper-immune bovine colostrum to the existing ART regimen of patients. [8]