A recent study demonstrating increased survival of SIV infected monkeys treated with THC was presented at the 28th Annual Symposium on Non-human Primate Models for AIDS in New Orleans in October 2010. The researchers used acknowledged markers of HIV replication and disease progression.

Further studies are being planned to study the effects of THC and/or  Immugen's lead compound on SIV infected monkeys prior to the initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ARV). Treatment with a cannabinoid and ARV will be continued until viral loads are undetectable or 50 copies or less. At that time, treatment with ARVs will be suspended while cannabinoid therapy is maintained. Viral loads will be carefully monitored to determine the interval prior to restarting ARVs if necessary during the one year time frame of the study. With appropriate funding the animals can be kept alive indefinitely to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.