The study carried out in Durban, South Africa, revealed that 20 percent of participants stayed off antiretroviral therapy (ART) and maintained viral suppression for one-and-a-half years, as stated in a press release from the research team.
The findings from the research were shared at the latest 2025 CROI conference held in San Francisco, United States.
The research represents the initial HIV cure clinical trial conducted in Africa. The scientists initiated treatment of the participants using antiretrovirals immediately following their infection with HIV. After the virus had been suppressed through Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), strong immunostimulants were introduced to enhance the body’s ability to combat the virus efficiently. With meticulous medical oversight, the patients subsequently ceased taking ART to determine whether their systems could manage the virus independently.
The research was headed by the HIV Pathogenesis Program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which is part of the broader Santhe consortium focusing on both research and skill development.
The other collaborators include the Africa Health Research Institute, the Ragon Institute which is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, and Harvard, as well as Gilead Sciences.
Professor Ndung'u stated that scientists must conduct additional studies to understand how certain individuals managed to suppress the virus, which could aid in the quest for a cure.
He stated: "Although this therapeutic method was not effective for the majority of participants, it remains an important advancement in HIV cure studies. Examining how the 20% were able to manage the virus independently could assist researchers in crafting more efficient HIV eradication methods and enhancing subsequent therapies."
This trial is crucial as it demonstrates that intricate HIV cure studies can be effectively carried out in areas with limited resources—precisely where the demand is highest—and underscores the necessity of involving African communities in worldwide scientific progress.
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