A new antibody that is able to kill off 99 percent of HIV strains has been developed by scientists. It is made up of three broadly neutralising antibodies and has been found to be more effective than any naturally occurring antibody that's been discovered.

The powerful antibody is the outcome of research carried out by the US National Institute of Health (NIH) in conjunction with pharmaceutical firm Sanofi.  

The exciting breakthrough can eventually lead to the cure for AIDS and may also prevent transmission of the virus. A test conducted on monkeys yielded positive results. 24 monkeys were given antibodies and then injected with the virus, but none of them resulted in an infection.

A cure for AIDS has been elusive as the human body finds it difficult to subdue HIV because the virus changes and mutates in a number of ways — a single patient can have numerous unique strains of the infection present in their body simultaneously.

Researchers at NIH and Sanofi combined three unique antibodies to produce a tri-specific antibody. While the most effective naturally occurring antibodies can only target 90 percent of HIV strains, this tri-specific antibody was observed to take on 99 percent.

Clinical trials on humans will get underway in 2018.