RIO study
4 February 2025. Related: News, Resources.
The RIO study was launched in 2021 to see whether immune-based therapy (called bNAbs) can be used to instead of HIV treatment (ART).
Two long-acting bNAbs or a placebo will be given by infusion and ART will be stopped, with close monitoring.
ART is then restarted after viral load rebounds above either 1000 for more than 6 weeks or if confirmed once above 100,000.
The study is open to people who started HIV treatment soon after they became HIV positive.
The study opened in June 2021 after participants have had COVID-19 vaccines. It will run for two years. Although enrolment was due to start in Spring 2020, the study was delayed for a year because of COVID-19.
This short video below explains what is involved in this study.
Video: the RIO Trial – using a new immune-based therapy to treat HIV (5 minutes)
Other links
Please contact the study team if you are interested in joining RIO. This link also includes a map showing the study sites in London and Brighton.
Journal article explaining the protocol for RIO in detail.
