The Cure for HIV

 

The Cure for HIV 

We're closer to a cure than ever before. Another person has now been said to be cured of HIV. Today, we’ll discuss the breakthroughs targeting a virus that has killed 40 million people around the world in the past generation.

This half-hour, we’ll dive into some exciting news. Scientists are closer to a cure for HIV than ever before. In fact, a 60-year-old man in Germany has been declared cured of the virus. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2009 and has been off medication since 2018. Six years later, the virus has not returned—an apparent cure. What was once a miracle is now happening more frequently, but the big question remains: how? Finding the answer could change millions of lives.

Nearly 40 million people around the world are living with HIV, and 30 million are on antiretroviral therapies (ART). Despite advancements in preventing infections, about a million people will be infected with HIV this year, and more than 600,000 will die of HIV/AIDS.

 today are several guests who have been personally impacted by HIV, including Dr. Michael Gottlieb, who helped lead the study that first identified HIV/AIDS. But first, let’s start with Scripps News Health and Science Correspondent, Lindsay Theis.

Take 68-year-old Paul Edmonds, for example. He’s lived with HIV for more than three decades. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2018, he is now cured of both conditions. He told Scripps News that he stopped his HIV meds in March 2021 and is still off them, testing negative for everything.

Edmonds, often called the "City of Hope" patient, is one of seven people who have been cured or are in remission from HIV. They underwent stem cell transplants where their immune cells were replaced with those from donors who had a rare genetic mutation that made their bodies resistant to most strains of HIV. In other words, they were cured.

While these cases offer hope, stem cell or bone marrow transplants remain risky and rare. The good news is that widely accessible treatments have transformed patient outcomes since the first FDA-approved HIV drug in 1987. Now, more than 40 HIV medications are available. And thanks to new prevention drugs like PrEP, people can take a daily pill or a once-monthly injection to prevent infection.

Scientists are also excited about a recent clinical trial for a twice-yearly injection that prevented 100% of infections in women who received it. The trial was so successful that it was stopped early to offer the regimen to all participants.

Lauren: 

It sounds like incredible progress! I know the CDC has reported a 12% drop in new HIV infections from 2018 to 2022, but there’s still work to be done, especially in the Southern United States, where over 50% of new infections occur.

Let’s now turn to Dr. Michael Gottlieb. Dr. Gottlieb, you were part of the team that first identified HIV/AIDS in 1981. How would you characterize the progress made over the last 43 years?

Dr. Michael Gottlieb:

Lauren, the progress has been remarkable. People living with HIV who have access to medication can now live almost as long as those without HIV. However, there are still around 10 million people worldwide who cannot access these medications. As for these recent cures, while promising, it’s premature to say we’ve found a universal cure. These seven cases involved patients who had both HIV and cancer, and their stem cell transplants also made them resistant to HIV. It’s a very special situation. But it’s proof that a cure is possible, though scaling up this treatment for the 40 million people living with HIV worldwide isn’t realistic at the moment.

Lauren:

You’ve mentioned that the early days of this disease were incredibly painful. What was happening during the mid-1990s that made you almost leave medicine?

Dr. Gottlieb 

In the mid-1990s, our hospital had entire units filled with young men dying from HIV, their immune systems destroyed. It was devastating. The medications that have since been developed suppress the virus to undetectable levels, allowing the immune system to recover. It’s a completely different picture today.

Lauren: 

Thank you, Dr. Gottlieb. Next, we’re joined by a panel of guests, including Harold Phillips, who ran President Biden's Office of National AIDS Policy, and Jeffrey Crowley, who held the same role under President Obama. We’re also joined by Ashley Case, a 31-year-old mother of two who has been living with HIV since she was 15.

Ashley, your partner and children are HIV-negative, and your virus is undetectable. Is HIV still a factor in your daily life?

Ashley Case:

Yes and no. I take my medication daily, so I’m reminded of it, but I’ve grown to see the positives in my situation. I use my story to help others living with HIV feel comfortable and know that they can live full lives. You don’t have to be defeated by HIV.

Lauren:  

Harold, how important are stories like Ashley’s in the fight against HIV?

Harold Phillips: 

They are essential. Ashley’s story shows the success of government and community efforts to humanize HIV. Stigma is still a major issue, but stories like hers prove that people with HIV can live long, healthy lives, have children, and achieve their dreams. The Biden administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy focuses on increasing awareness and prevention while working to end HIV as a public health threat in the U.S.

Lauren:

Jeffrey, you led the development of the U.S.'s first National HIV/AIDS Strategy. How has it evolved since then?

Jeffrey Crowley:

The strategy started with the need to refocus attention on HIV, and it’s evolved with scientific advancements. Today, we have PrEP and longer-acting treatments, offering more options for people. We’ve also made strides in community outreach and access to care, but we need to keep pushing for more equity in healthcare.

Lauren:

Looking forward, where should the federal government focus its HIV funding?

Harold Phillips:

 We need to continue making HIV a public health priority and ensure consistent funding for both domestic and global efforts. A lot of our HIV research also supports other health initiatives, like the COVID-19 vaccine development, so this work has broader benefits.

Lauren:

Ashley, where do you think the fight for a cure goes from here?

Ashley Case: 

I believe we’re getting closer. We’ve come a long way with medication. When I was diagnosed, I was on seven pills a day. Now I take just one, and there’s even an injectable option. That gives us hope that a cure is on the horizon.

Lauren: 

Jeffrey, your final thoughts?

Jeffrey Crowley:  

We need to focus on equity. HIV has always been unequal, but we’ve proven that with the right approach, we can greatly reduce disparities and help everyone access the care they need.