A potential cure for HIV

The Economist
18 May 201705:09

Summary

TLDRMedical researchers have developed a therapeutic vaccine to combat HIV, aiming to provide a functional cure for those infected. Unlike preventative vaccines, this treatment strengthens the immune system to identify and destroy HIV-infected cells without the need for continuous medication. In trials, 40% of participants were able to control the virus, highlighting the potential for a life-changing impact on HIV management. While not a complete cure, this breakthrough offers hope for a future where HIV could be eradicated.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ˜จ The speaker was terrified upon learning they had HIV, indicating the life-changing impact of the diagnosis.
  • ๐Ÿ’Š The high cost and side effects of antiretroviral treatments for HIV are a significant concern, especially in resource-poor settings.
  • ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Only 1% of the population has innate immunity to HIV, which allows their bodies to fight the disease without medication.
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ A therapeutic vaccine is being developed to help infected individuals achieve a 'functional cure', where they can manage HIV without ongoing drug treatment.
  • ๐Ÿค’ HIV is difficult to treat because it hides in white blood cells, evading the body's immune system.
  • ๐Ÿ’‰ The therapeutic vaccine works in two steps: first, it boosts the immune system, and then a drug called Romi leptin is used to identify HIV-infected cells.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฌ Clinical trials have been conducted on individuals who recently contracted HIV to test the vaccine's effectiveness in helping the immune system find and destroy infected cells.
  • ๐ŸŽ‰ Positive results were seen in 40% of the trial participants, who were able to control the virus after receiving the vaccine and stopping antiretroviral treatment.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ One patient's life has been transformed, as they have not needed to take any medication for six months since receiving the vaccine.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Ongoing trials and research are necessary to further develop therapeutic vaccinations and potentially induce a functional cure in a larger proportion of individuals.
  • ๐ŸŒฑ Despite progress, eradicating HIV remains a challenge, as the goal is to completely eliminate the virus from the infected individuals and eventually from the world.

Q & A

  • What was the initial emotional response of the speaker upon learning about their HIV status?

    -The speaker was terrified, not upset, upon learning about their HIV status.

  • Why are antiretroviral treatments for HIV not always the desired option according to the script?

    -Antiretroviral treatments are not the desired option due to their side effects on body functions and their high cost, which is especially limiting in resource-poor settings.

  • What is the annual healthcare budget per person in the example given in the script?

    -The annual healthcare budget per person is over 25 dollars, making adequate care for HIV infection almost impossible.

  • What is a therapeutic vaccine, and how does it differ from a conventional vaccine?

    -A therapeutic vaccine helps equip infected bodies to defeat a disease that's already contracted, unlike conventional vaccines that prevent disease.

  • What percentage of the population is said to have innate immunity to HIV?

    -Around 1% of the population has innate immunity to HIV.

  • What is the goal of the researchers working on the therapeutic vaccine for HIV?

    -The goal is to help people achieve a functional cure, where they can deal with the infection without taking drugs, like the naturally immune 1% of the population.

  • What is a functional cure in the context of HIV?

    -A functional cure is a state where the patient doesn't suffer any of the problems associated with HIV, but there may still be traces of the virus in their system.

  • How does the therapeutic vaccine work to combat HIV?

    -The vaccine boosts the patient's immune system to better fight the virus, and then the patient is given a drug that causes HIV-infected cells to release proteins, identifying them to the body for destruction.

  • What was the aim of the trials conducted by the group of scientists on the vaccine?

    -The aim was to help the immune systems of individuals who recently contracted HIV find and destroy HIV-infected cells.

  • What were the results of the trials involving the therapeutic vaccine?

    -The results were encouraging, with 5 out of 13 individuals controlling the virus, which is 40% of the trial participants.

  • What is the significance of the therapeutic vaccine for individuals like patient Afi's?

    -For individuals like Afi's, the vaccine has been life-changing, allowing them to stop taking antiretroviral treatments and maintain an undetectable viral load for an extended period.

  • What is the current status of therapeutic vaccines for HIV, and what are the future prospects?

    -The therapeutic vaccines are still in trial stages, with the hope of inducing a functional cure in a large proportion of individuals and eventually working towards the eradication of HIV.

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Related Tags
HIV VaccineTherapeutic CureMedical ResearchImmune SystemAntiretroviralResource-PoorInnate ImmunityClinical TrialsHealthcare LimitationsPatient Stories