Advanced Therapies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) affects 38 million globally, persisting despite antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• HIV's ability to mutate and establish reservoirs complicates eradication efforts.
• Current ART controls replication but necessitates lifelong adherence without eliminating the virus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) for novel HIV therapeutic strategies.
• To explore cell therapy, immunisation strategies, and gene therapy as potential HIV treatments.
• To highlight challenges and future directions in developing curative HIV therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical and clinical research on ATMPs for HIV.
• Analysis of cell therapy (e.g., CAR T-cell), immunisation (e.g., broadly neutralising antibodies, vaccines), and gene therapy (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9).
• Examination of challenges including viral reservoirs, off-target effects, delivery, and ethical considerations.

Main Results:

• Cell therapy shows promise in preclinical models for targeting HIV-infected cells.
• Immunisation strategies like broadly neutralising antibodies aim to control viral replication and reduce reservoirs.
• Gene therapy approaches focus on modifying cells for resistance or eliminating infected cells, though challenges remain.

Conclusions:

• ATMPs represent a promising frontier for advancing HIV treatment beyond current ART.
• Further research and clinical trials are crucial to establish the safety and efficacy of these emerging therapies.
• Combined therapeutic strategies may be essential for achieving complete HIV reservoir elimination and a potential cure.