Small Trial Shows Patients Controlled HIV Without Daily Meds for Months

A small but closely watched study from the University of California, San Francisco, has shown promising results in the long-term management of HIV. The study, conducted on ten individuals living with HIV, involved a combination of experimental immunotherapies, which included an HIV vaccine.

After undergoing these treatments, participants paused their daily antiretroviral medications. Notably, six of the ten participants experienced a slower and weaker rebound of the virus months after stopping their medications.

One participant, Tom Perrault, who had been on daily HIV medication since 2005, reported that he maintained viral control for over 18 months after stopping his medication in July 2021. Perrault expressed his surprise and hope, stating, 'I was like: My body is suppressing it.

I think it’s working.' Dr. Steven Deeks, a professor of medicine at UCSF and a leader of the study, described the results as 'unexpected and unparalleled,' emphasizing the study's potential to influence future research directions.

The trial included a rigorous design with approximately 60 clinic visits, combining multiple immunotherapy strategies. This included an experimental vaccine aimed at activating HIV-fighting T cells, two broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting HIV, a drug to activate the immune system, and a final round of antibodies before halting the antiretroviral therapy.

According to research, the approach is built on the premise that enhancing immunologic control can help prevent or slow viral rebound after the cessation of antiretroviral therapy. Dr. Rachel Rutishauser, co-leader of the UCSF study, noted that individuals who showed a slower viral rebound had a rapid response from a specific group of T cells when the virus began to return.

While experts, including Sharon Lewin from the Doherty Institute, acknowledge the promise of these findings, they stress the necessity for further studies with control groups. This study, published in the journal Nature, marks a significant step forward in HIV research and offers hope to the approximately 40 million people worldwide living with the virus, who currently rely on lifelong antiretroviral therapy. The findings may pave the way for new treatment protocols and potentially a path toward a functional cure for HIV.