About

Pablo Tebas, MD, is a Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His research interests center around the study of the complications of HIV and its treatment, with a current focus on evaluating strategies for the cure of HIV infection. He is the director and principal investigator of the AIDS Clinical Trial Unit (ACTU) research site at the University of Pennsylvania and is a founding member of the HIV Reservoirs and Viral Eradication (Cure) Transformative Science Group of the AIDS clinical trial group. His work includes involvement in early phase trials of new compounds developed in conjunction with the NIH, such as evaluating antiviral activity of aprepitant, immunogenicity of therapeutic DNA vaccines, and gene therapy studies using lentiviral vectors, including antisense approaches and zinc finger nuclease editing of CCR5.

Research topics

• Virology
• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Intensive care medicine
• Biology
• Pediatrics
• Psychology
• Immunology
• Emergency medicine

Selected publications

• Clinical trial results provide the rationale to protect dual HIV-specific T cells with a signaling-defective HIV fusion inhibitor

  Molecular Therapy · 2026-01-10

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Switch to fixed-dose doravirine (100 mg) and islatravir (0·25 mg) once daily in virologically suppressed adults with HIV-1 on oral antiretroviral therapy: 48-week results of a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial

  The Lancet · 2026-02-01 · 3 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Are screening periods in ART-naive trials justified in the era of rapid ART?

  The Lancet HIV · 2026-05-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Antiviral Treatment for Mild to Moderate COVID-19 in Adults

  Clinical Infectious Diseases · 2026-02-20 · 1 citations

  article

  This article provides a focused update to the clinical practice guideline on the treatment and management of people with COVID-19, developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The guideline panel presents 9 updated recommendations on the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, remdesivir, and molnupiravir, in adults with mild to moderate COVID-19. The recommendations are based on evidence derived from a systematic literature review and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The panel also provides a section on how to apply these recommendations, including an algorithm on the selection of antivirals.

  PublisherDOI

• Switch to fixed-dose doravirine (100 mg) and islatravir (0·25 mg) once daily in virologically suppressed adults with HIV-1 on oral antiretroviral therapy: 48-week results of a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial

  Universität Zürich, ZORA · 2026-02-07

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• P-105. Safety and Immunogenicity of BNT163, a Trivalent mRNA HSV Vaccine Candidate for Genital Herpes

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) affects ∼12% of individuals aged 14–49 years in the US. HSV-2-related genital herpes is a life-long and stigmatizing infection, often marked by recurrent episodes that can cause painful lesions and increase transmission of other sexually transmitted infections. BNT163 is an investigational lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated trivalent mRNA vaccine, encoding HSV-2 glycoproteins gC2, gD2, and gE2, which demonstrated immunogenicity and prevention of genital lesions in preclinical HSV-2 models.Table 1.Baseline demographicsData are n (%) unless otherwise stated.*In each group, 10 participants were randomized to BNT163 and two to placebo.Figure 1.Local and systemic reactogenicity events occurring within 7 days of Vaccinations 1 and 2Vx, vaccination. In total, 12 participants in each group received Vaccination 1 of BNT163 or placebo, and 11, 12, 12 and 11 received Vaccination 2 or placebo in the 3 µg, 10 µg, 30 µg and 60 µg groups, respectively. Reactogenicity events were participant-reported in electronic diaries for 7 days after each vaccination. Numbers above each bar denote the percentage of participants in that cohort who experienced the reaction with any severity. Local. Pain at the injection site was graded as 1 (mild, does not interfere with activity), 2 (moderate, interferes with activity), 3 (severe, prevents daily activity) or 4 (potentially life-threatening, emergency room visit or hospitalization). Redness and swelling were graded as 1 (mild, 2.5–5.0 cm in diameter), 2 (moderate >5.0–10.0 cm), 3 (severe, >10.0 cm), or 4 (necrosis or exfoliative dermatitis for redness and necrosis for swelling). Systemic. Chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and joint pain were graded as 1 (mild, does not interfere with activity), 2 (moderate, some interference with activity), 3 (severe, prevents daily routine activity) or 4 (potentially life-threatening, emergency room visit or hospitalization). Diarrhea was graded as 1 (mild, 2–3 loose stools in 24 hours), 2 (moderate, 4–5 loose stools in 24 hours), 3 (severe, ≥6 loose stools in 24 hours) or 4 (potentially life-threatening, emergency room visit or hospitalization). Fever was graded as 1 (mild, 38.0°C–38.4°C), 2 (moderate, 35.8°C–38.9°C), 3 (severe, 39.0°C–40.0°C), or 4 (potentially life-threatening, >40.0°C). Vomiting was graded as 1 (mild, 1–2 times in 24 hours), 2 (moderate, >2 times in 24 hours), 3 (severe, requires intravenous hydration), or 4 (potentially life-threatening, emergency room visit or hospitalization). Methods In this ongoing first-in-human dose-escalation Phase 1 trial (NCT05432583), healthy participants (18–55 years) without history of symptomatic genital herpes were assigned to receive intramuscular injections of 3, 10, 30, or 60 µg BNT163, or placebo, on Days 1, 56 and 112. In each dose group, 12 participants were randomized to BNT163 (n=10) or placebo (n=2). Dose escalation proceeded based on predefined safety and tolerability criteria, as reviewed and approved by an internal review committee. The primary endpoint is safety, with secondary and exploratory endpoints assessing immunogenicity. Blinded data are reported through Day 28 post-Vaccination (Vx) 2.Figure 2.Geometric mean and 95% confidence intervals of antigen-specific antibody binding titers in evaluable immunogenicity sets through 28 days post-Vaccination 2d, days; IgG, immunoglobulin G; Vx, vaccination. BNT163 or placebo was administered on Days 1 and 56 (arrows indicate day of administration). Serum samples were obtained pre-Vx1, 7 and 28 days post-Vx1, pre-Vx2, and 7 and 28 days post-Vx2. Titers of binding IgG are shown for HSV-2 glycoproteins gC2, gD2, and gE2. Dashed lines indicate LLOQ for each antigen: 32.6, 5.3, and 12.6 AU/mL for gC2, gD2, and gE2, respectively. gE2-specific titers for the 60 µg group were not available at the time of analysis but will be presented at the meeting. Results Forty-eight participants enrolled in this part of the trial and received at least one administration of BNT163 or placebo. Baseline demographics were balanced across groups, except for a higher proportion of female participants in the 30 µg group (Table 1). Local and systemic reactogenicity events were mostly mild-to-moderate across dose groups (Figure 1) and no safety pausing or stopping rules were met. With data blinded at time of submission, the geometric mean binding antibody titers to all encoded antigens for available cohorts showed an increasing trend following Vx 1 and Vx 2 (Figure 2). HSV-2 neutralization titers were induced across dose groups available for analysis at the time of submission. Unblinded safety, antibody and cell-mediated immune response data post-Vx 3 will be presented for each dose group and combined placebo group. Conclusion BNT163 is well-tolerated with an acceptable safety profile and induces binding antibody and neutralizing titers to HSV-2 antigens, supporting its continued clinical development. Disclosures Akira A. Shishido, MD, BioNTech US Inc: Employee Pablo Tebas, MD, BioNTech SE: Grant/Research Support|Hoopkipa: Grant/Research Support|Inovio: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Shionogi: Advisor/Consultant|Shionogi: Grant/Research Support|ViiV Healthcare: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV Healthcare: Grant/Research Support Claudia S. Crowell, MD, MPH, BioNTech SE: Employee|BioNTech SE: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Sushma Kommineni, PhD, BioNTech: Employee|BioNTech: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Gosford Sawyerr, MA, BioNTech US Inc: Employee Wen Ding, MS, BioNTech: Employee|BioNTech: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Tania Fritsch, MSc, BioNTech SE: Employee Raquel Furtado, PhD, BioNTech: BioNTech SE|BioNTech: Employee|BioNTech: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Robbert G. van der Most, PhD, BioAster: Advisor/Consultant|BioNTech SE: Advisor/Consultant|BioNTech SE: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)|Gates Foundation: Advisor/Consultant|P-95: Advisor/Consultant|Sanofi: Advisor/Consultant|WHO: Advisor/Consultant Orkun Ozhelvaci, BSc, BioNTech SE: Employee|BioNTech SE: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Sita Awasthi, PhD, BioNTech SE: Grant/Research Support|BioNTech SE: License from Penn to BioNTech. H Friedman, G. Cohen, S Awasthi are inventors on the patent Penn licensed to BioNTech|BioNTech SE: Partial support was provided for attending and presenting at Biologics conference in Goa India 2025 January for registration and travel|Merck: Royalties from Merck for a protein-based subunit vaccine|NIH: Grant/Research Support Gary H. Cohen, PhD, BioNTech US: Funding provided for abstract submission Harvey M. Friedman, MD, BioNTech: License from Penn to BioNTech. H Friedman, G. Cohen, S Awasthi are inventors on the patent Penn licensed to BioNTech|BioNTech: Support with abstract submission|Merck: Royalties from Merck for a protein-based subunit vaccine|NIH: Grant/Research Support|NIH: Travel support for meetings|University of Pennsylvania: Awarded Patents|Wolters Kluwer: Honoraria Federico Mensa, MD, BioNTech US: Honoraria|BioNTech US: Employee|BioNTech US: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)

  PublisherDOI

• 661. Phase 1, dose-escalation trial of the safety and pharmacokinetics of SARS-CoV-2 DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAb) in healthy adults

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background Local intramuscular administration of synthetic plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) offers a promising alternative to traditional recombinant protein-based mAb delivery. This approach may enable durable in vivo expression of functional antibodies and overcome limitations related to cost, production, and cold-chain logistics. AZD5396 and AZD8076 are modified versions of the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody cocktail Evusheld, encoded as DNA-delivered monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs). CONSORT diagram and trial schematic Longitudinal serum concentration of in vivo-expressed DMAbs AZD5396 and AZD8076 Methods In this Phase 1, dose-escalation study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05293249), we evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a pDNA cocktail encoding AZD5396 and AZD8076 in healthy adults. Participants received up to four intramuscular doses of the pDNA cocktail delivered by CELLECTRA™ electroporation. The primary endpoints were safety and pharmacokinetics. Exploratory endpoints included anti-drug antibody (ADA) development and functional activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Results All 44 enrolled participants received at least one dose, and DMAbs were detected in 100% of evaluable participants (n=39). Serum DMAb concentrations reached a mean peak of 1.11 µg/mL, with sustained expression observed in all participants who completed 72 weeks of follow-up. The product was well tolerated, and no product-related serious adverse events were reported. Exploratory analyses demonstrated binding to multiple SARS-CoV-2 spike variants and neutralizing activity in pseudovirus assays. Across ∼1,000 serum samples, no ADAs were detected using validated tiered assays. Conclusion These findings provide the first-in-human proof-of-concept that synthetic pDNA DMAb technology enables durable in vivo production of a functional mAb cocktail. The results highlight the critical role of optimized synthetic design, formulation, and delivery in achieving biologically relevant expression. DNA-delivered mAbs may represent a long-acting, scalable, cold-chain-independent platform for targeting a wide range of diseases treatable with antibody-based therapeutics. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

  PublisherDOI

• P-377. Efficacy and Safety by Age After Switch to Doravirine/Islatravir (100 mg/0.25 mg) Once Daily: Week 48 Results from Two Phase 3 Randomized, Active-Controlled Studies in Adults Living with HIV-1

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Background Doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL, 100 mg/0.25 mg) is an investigational once-daily regimen for HIV treatment. In two Phase 3 studies, switching to DOR/ISL was non-inferior for efficacy with a safety profile comparable to continuing baseline antiretroviral therapy (bART) or bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) at Week 48 (W48). Because concerns about comorbidities and drug tolerability increase with age, this subgroup analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of DOR/ISL by age. Methods Adults with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL receiving stable oral bART (MK-8591A-051 [P051]; NCT05631093) or BIC/FTC/TAF (MK-8591A-052 [P052]; NCT05630755) for ≥3 months were randomized (2:1) to switch to DOR/ISL (100 mg/0.25 mg) or to continue bART (P051) or BIC/FTC/TAF (P052). For P051+P052, efficacy results were pooled for both the DOR/ISL arms and the comparator arms (pooled comparator) and were summarized by age (< 50, ≥50 years) through W48. AEs and weight were reported by age subgroup for each study. Results Across both studies, 708 participants switched to DOR/ISL and 356 continued bART or BIC/FTC/TAF (pooled comparator); overall 49.7% were ≥50 years old (10.6% ≥65 years). At W48, the proportion of DOR/ISL participants with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL was similar between those < 50 and ≥50 years in the pooled DOR/ISL group (92.1% vs 95.2%) and similar to the pooled comparator (94.5% vs 91.4%; Figure). Among DOR/ISL participants, rates of AEs, drug-related AEs, serious AEs, and discontinuations due to AEs were similar between age subgroups in both studies (Table). The AE profile was similar by treatment group for participants ≥65 years old. Rates of drug-related AEs were higher for open-label DOR/ISL than bART (P051), with a greater difference for participants ≥50 years, but were comparable between blinded treatment groups (P052). For DOR/ISL participants, weight changes were minimal overall (range of mean percent change in age subgroups −0.51% to 2.12%; Table). There were no clinically meaningful differences in weight change between those < 50 years and those ≥50 years. Conclusion At W48, switching to DOR/ISL (100 mg/0.25 mg) demonstrated high efficacy and was generally well tolerated across age subgroups in adults living with HIV-1, including those ≥50 years. Disclosures Pablo Tebas, MD, Merck: Honoraria|Shionogi: Honoraria|Viiv: Honoraria Frank A. Post, MD, PhD, Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Gilead: Honoraria|MSD: Grant/Research Support|MSD: Honoraria Moti Ramgopal, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AbbVie: Speaker Bureau|Gilead: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Honoraria|Shionogi Inc: Consultant|ViiV Healthcare: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV Healthcare: Honoraria Marcel Stoeckle, MD, Gilead: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Congress grants Andrew Carr, MD, Gilead: Board Member|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Gilead: Honoraria|MSD: Board Member|MSD: Grant/Research Support|MSD: Honoraria|ViiV Healthcare: Board Member|ViiV Healthcare: Grant/Research Support|ViiV Healthcare: Honoraria Olayemi O. Osiyemi, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Honoraria|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Honoraria|ViiV: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV: Honoraria Ronald G. Nahass, MD, Arbutus Pharma: Grant/Research Support|Insemed: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|VIR Pharma: Grant/Research Support Jason Szabo, MD, PhD, Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Gilead: Advisory board; Speaker fees|Merck: Speaker Fees|Novo Nordisk: Advisory board|ViiV: Grant/Research Support|ViiV: Advisory board; Speaker fees Anjana Grandhi, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc.: Employment|Merck & Co., Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Monica Fuszard, MS, Merck & Co.: Employment Stephanie O. Klopfer, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc: Employment|Merck & Co., Inc: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Rima Lahoulou, n/a, MSD: Employment|MSD: Stocks/Bonds (Private Company) Luisa M. Stamm, MD, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc.: Employment|Merck & Co., Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Michelle C. Fox, MD, Merck & Co., Inc.: Employment|Merck & Co., Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Jason Y. Kim, MD, MSCE, Merck & Co.: Employment|Merck & Co.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Baricitinib vs. Tocilizumab

  Clinical Infectious Diseases · 2026-02-20

  article

  This article provides a focused update to the clinical practice guideline on the treatment and management of patients with COVID-19, developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The guideline panel presents a new recommendation on the use of baricitinib vs. tocilizumab in hospitalized adults with severe or critical COVID-19. The panel has previously issued recommendations on baricitinib vs. no baricitinib and tocilizumab vs. no tocilizumab, but this new recommendation compares baricitinib to tocilizumab when the decision has been made to give one or the other. The new recommendation does not address combinations of multiple immunomodulatory agents (ie, baricitinib, tocilizumab, abatacept, infliximab). The recommendation is based on evidence derived from a systematic literature review and adheres to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

  PublisherDOI

• Phase 1, dose-escalation trial of the safety and pharmacokinetics of SARS-CoV-2 DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAb) in healthy adults

  Research Square · 2025-03-12 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Molecular & Translational Immunotechnology Core

  NIH · $36.7M · 1999–2029

• NIH Grant P01MH076388

  NIH · $12.8M · 2010

• NIH Grant K23AI001612

  NIH · $342k · 2002

• NIH Grant R21AI063995

  NIH · $348k · 2008

• Sequencing and Viral Evolution Core

  NIH · $24.4M · 2022

Frequent coauthors

• Paul E. Sax

  392 shared

• David A. Wohl

  378 shared

• Andrew Cheng

  Spero Therapeutics (United States)

  371 shared

• Karen T. Tashima

  370 shared

• José Ramón Arribas

  368 shared

• Nathan Clumeck

  366 shared

• Moupali Das

  South African Medical Research Council

  365 shared

• Lijie Zhong

  364 shared

Education

• Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases

  Washington University in Saint Louis

  1995

• Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

  Hospital Universitario Puerta del Hierro

  1991

• MD

  Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

  1985