The role of analytical treatment interruptions in shaping HIV-specific immunity and HIV cure

While existing guidance supports the use of analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) in HIV cure clinical trials, their design must be tailored to the intervention and scientific question. As immunologically based cure strategies gain prominence, understanding how ATIs interact with HIV-specific immune responses is critical for their safe and effective implementation.

Time to rebound ATIs evaluate how quickly HIV returns after stopping treatment and are generally safer due to limited viraemia duration. In contrast, set point ATIs measure the level at which viraemia stabilizes after rebound and may pose greater risks, as participants can experience higher viraemia before reaching a set point or demonstrating post intervention control. Shorter ATIs appear to cause only transient effects on the HIV reservoir, immune function, and inflammation. However, the long-term consequences of prolonged ATIs remain unclear due to limited data.

As HIV cure research progresses, carefully designed ATIs are essential for evaluating new therapies. Longer follow up post virological suppression should be considered, despite potential cost and logistical burdens. When collected, these data and outcomes should be reported in trial publications and shared with stakeholders.