Treatment News : Post-Conference Report Provides HIV Cure Roadmap

Now that a cure has been proved to be possible, the challenge has moved from encouraging researchers to take up cure-oriented studies to figuring out how to design and conduct those studies, according to a report summarizing an April 2011 meeting sponsored by the AIDS Policy Project, Project Inform, the Treatment Action Group and amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

According to the extensive review, prepared by HIV science writer Liz Highleyman, given that such trials are likely to confer risks to people living with HIV who participate in them, researchers, regulators, and activists must come together to ensure not only that participants are kept safe, but also that research can move forward quickly and confidently, even if the first trials do not produce positive results.

In the past three years, the report’s executive summary points out, increasing scientific momentum has been evident in research aimed at curing HIV infection. The remarkable case of “Berlin Patient” Timothy Brown—an American diagnosed with leukemia who appears to have been cured of HIV infection—“has contributed to reinvigorating the scientific community to investigate the possibility of discovering and developing a safe, effective, feasible and scalable HIV cure.”

There have been a number of signs of scientific progress over the past three years, the report suggests. “Researchers have contributed new insights into where and why HIV persists in the body even when powerful antiretroviral therapy has all but shut it down. Ultrasensitive tests can detect the virus at the level of a single copy of RNA. The first controlled trials of a class of drugs called histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors that may roust HIV from its hiding places are underway, and other types of treatments designed to teach the immune system to either clear or control the virus on its own have been initiated.”

Also encouraging, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now funding cure-related research specifically through three consortia funded by grants named after longtime AIDS activist Martin Delaney.

Some critical scientific questions remain unanswered, the report notes. For example, if HIV eradication is the goal, how can this be proved when the best currently available tests may still miss the tiny residual amount of the virus that can bring the infection roaring back to life when antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are withdrawn? Additionally, one of the only ways to know if a curative modality is working is to stop ARV therapy and see what happens to the viral load. However, if researchers dub treatment interruptions necessary, how can they be conducted safely in study participants when prevailing data suggest that even relatively short treatment interruptions can be harmful for some?

Even if the virus cannot be eradicated, but it can be functionally cured by teaching the immune system to maintain strict control of viral replication, another question remains: What kinds of changes in the immune system and inflammatory markers will tell us we are on the right track?

Last but not least, if early trials require participants to take greater risks with little hope of gain, how can researchers and advocates ensure that studies are ethical and guarantee that those taking the risks are fully informed?

The report reviews the discussions at the HIV Cure-Related Clinical Research Workshop, held April 20 and 21 in Baltimore, and involving more than 50 leading public- and private-sector HIV researchers, AIDS treatment advocates and U.S. government officials. The report lays out the latest thinking on these core questions, the key obstacles ahead, and a series of next steps proposed by conference attendees to address those challenges.

“The work ahead will require new resources and new levels of cooperation and collaboration—among scientists, and among researchers, government agencies, activists, and people with HIV,” the report’s executive summary concludes. “Workshop cosponsors and participants have all committed to transforming the ideas generated at the conference from words on paper into concrete actions.”

Tebogo, Pretoria, 2012-04-08 10:59:08
I was diagnosed in 2005 for HIV and since had two children, to date my CD 4 count is still at 685. I think sexual lifestyles should change and inisist on condoms with your partners. My children are now 7 and 3 and am hopeful that a cure will be found before I can start treatment. Keep positive people around you and laugh as much as possible, God Bless

Keith, EU, 2012-03-28 18:46:04
The question of what is a cure and when someone is cured is an issue, if we get that far. Cancer is referred to as cured if it stays gone for 5 years. HIV unlike cancer is transferable between people, would a government declare a once hiv+ person negitive. As well as "curing" a person one would have to make the virus non-transferable w/o meds and for that matter condoms

tyrone, brooklyn new york, 2012-03-07 04:37:07
My name tyrone I was recently test for hiv in now I have it in I've had it for a bout year my dr said but I'm on the 1 pill regumen atripla in I'm 27 years old with a new born daughter in I'm a fraid every day tht I'm not gone live to see her grow up in I ask to be in this trail cuz I would like to show her that her farther just didn't give up he fault rto live in have a dicent life in watch her grow and for the millions of us out there with hiv tht need to be cured

salome, south africa, 2012-02-20 07:02:45
I would like to parcitipate in the research how do i apply or go about it am willing to travel

Eric B., New York, NY; USA, 2012-02-12 23:20:47
Clinical trials for HDA inhibitors seem to show the most promise. It seems that gene therapy will be the functional cure in our lifetime, but will not be effective to eradicate the virus globally, since it cannot be administered globally. This will slow down the progress, and will inhibit it from becoming a first line of defense. I

Me, , 2012-01-12 21:21:03
Why are there no advertisements for the need of ppl participation on such programs (i've some for preventative drugs)

Joe, South Africa, 2012-01-08 15:38:01
I believe the cure is there but because money corruptes even purest souls then the society will endure a little bit until they feel its time to realise. God have mercy over your people.

Anony Mouse, Illinois, 2011-11-25 09:26:41
We have a framework. We have an understanding. We just need volunteers. The framework is testing new treatments against the existing golden standard. The understanding is that HIV destroys the very thing that is necessary to destory it, so we must treat as early as possible. Though, the "volunteers" must be the greedy pharmaceutical companies, volunteering to freely test their (donated) treatments. Of course, we must look for ways to help the immune system clear HIV. How did GcMAF do it?

Sandy Boyce, Port Saint Lucie, 2011-11-22 13:21:21
I have lived with HIV for 28 years and full blown Aids for the past 6 years. I have been on many trial drugs and now I'm on the regular cocktails. My immune system has become or is limited to certain anitvirals. If this new study has any hope, I would surely agree to participate. I think we are moving towards great progress, thanks to all that do participate. Thank you to all the scienctist and researchers who are dedicated to make a cure possible.

Just me, Oklahoma City, 2011-11-20 11:30:24
I personally feel that a cure would be great and if people with HIV/AIDS are willing to subject themselves to test to find a cure, regardless of the outcome them why not let us. If we are going to die at least let us help find a cure if it's possible. If we are willing to help others not live a life on medications and at the Dr's office, then so be it.

sean wayne, detroit, 2011-11-16 02:22:16
I've recently been diagnosed with HIV and I have not started any meds. My t cells are at 399 and viral load is 92, I am willing to be a part of any research that is available for a possible cure. My doctor said I don't need to start any medication regimen until May 2012. If there are any scientists out there that need a "study" I am willing to participate; just as long it will increase my t cells and viral load.

Kezzz, Poznan, 2011-11-12 04:08:42
it's a long way to go, before they find a cure, it can takes another 30 years

srini, , 2011-11-11 07:48:57
hope that hiv treatment cure wii come.it is matter of tme.

Isaiah, Portharcut, 2011-11-06 01:27:41
I'm sure that every problem have solution and hiv is not exception

Sam Boateng, Accra Ghana, 2011-11-03 16:56:18
This is a generational problem and like the influenza,small pox, bubon and others of the 20th century, we'll definately find cure for HIV before the first quarter of the 21st century ends.