A novel HIV maturation inhibitor dubbed HRF-10071 showed good activity in a small Phase II study. Modern antiretrovirals are usually effective, but people with extensive drug resistance can have trouble maintaining viral suppression. Maturation inhibitors work in a different way, blocking the release of proteins that make up HIV’s capsid structure and leading to the production of noninfectious immature virus. Researchers in India tested the drug in 30 previously untreated people with HIV who were randomly assigned to receive one of four doses or a placebo once daily for 14 days. (Antiretro-virals used alone do not maintain viral suppression, but they are typically tested for a brief monotherapy period to determine antiviral activity.) HRF-10071 reduced HIV RNA levels by up to -1.84 log. The drug was well tolerated with no treatment-related adverse events. Hetero Labs will now test HRF-10071 in combination with other antiretrovirals. While this trial used once-daily oral dosing, data from preclinical studies suggest it has potential for long-acting therapy.