HIV Research Advances Highlight Promising Paths Toward Potential Cure

Berlin researchers explore innovative therapies, including antibody treatments, to address the challenges of eliminating HIV reservoirs.

The 'second Berlin patient' has been declared free of HIV for over five years following a high-risk stem cell transplant, marking the seventh documented case of HIV remission globally.
Christian Gaebler's team at Berlin's Charité hospital is investigating how to make such therapies broadly applicable and safer for HIV patients worldwide.
Current treatments can suppress HIV but cannot eliminate latent reservoirs of the virus, which reactivate if therapy is stopped.
Antibody-based therapies are showing promise in reducing HIV reservoirs and potentially enabling long-term remission without daily medication.
Challenges remain in making these advanced treatments accessible and affordable, especially in regions with high HIV prevalence and limited healthcare infrastructure.