A clinical trial in South Africa has shown early success in the search for an HIV cure, particularly for women who are often overlooked in medical research.
The study focused on individuals with acute HIV infection and tested a treatment that could help control the virus without daily medication.
Twenty women took part in the trial, all of whom had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least a year. They received a combination of immune-boosting drugs, including the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist vesatolimod (VES) and two broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), VRC07-523LS and CAP256V2LS. The goal was to see if this approach could keep the virus suppressed without the need for daily ART.
After completing the treatment, the participants stopped taking ART under careful monitoring. The researchers observed how long it took for the virus to return and when ART needed to be restarted. Five women were able to go nearly a year without needing to resume ART, with two maintaining undetectable viral levels. Others showed signs that their immune systems were controlling the virus, although some had to restart ART.
The study confirmed that the treatment was safe, with no severe side effects. While some participants experienced mild reactions to the infusions, these resolved quickly. The results suggest that immune-based therapies could help people with HIV manage the virus without lifelong medication.
This research offers hope for women in Africa and other regions with limited healthcare resources. The findings suggest that innovative treatments could lead to long-term viral control and bring scientists closer to an HIV cure. Further studies will explore how to strengthen immune responses and develop new ways to keep the virus in check.