After 'unprecedented' results, SF researchers get closer to HIV cure

Key Points:

• Tom Perrault participated in a novel UCSF trial aiming to retrain the immune system to control HIV without daily medication, involving a painful electroporation procedure combined with a DNA vaccine and antibody treatments.
• The trial, led by Dr. Steven Deeks, tested a three-pronged immunotherapy approach designed to expose hidden HIV reservoirs and enhance immune response, allowing some participants to pause antiretroviral therapy (ART) for months.
• Results showed that 6 out of 10 participants maintained viral suppression for months without medication, with one individual showing no viral rebound over 18 months, marking unprecedented progress toward an HIV functional cure.
• Despite the promising findings, the virus eventually returned in most participants, and researchers emphasize the need for further study to improve and understand the mechanisms behind the treatment.
• Perrault and researchers remain hopeful, viewing the trial as a significant step forward in HIV cure research and a way to spare future generations from the hardships faced by earlier HIV-positive individuals.