HIV Treatment and Cure Project Overview

There has been considerable improvement in treatment for HIV with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), leading to significant reductions in HIV-associated mortality and morbidity globally. However, there were still 630,000 HIV-related deaths globally in 2023 and only about 31 million of the 40 million people living with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Therefore, there continues to be a need for new therapeutic interventions that address some of the challenges with currently available options. Moreover, ART does not cure HIV infection and, currently, ART is maintained for life. This is because ARVs mostly target circulating viruses and do not address viral reservoirs. As HIV incidence remains high globally – 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2023 – the number of people in need of ART continues to rise, placing an ever-increasing stress on healthcare systems. Therefore, while expansions of and innovations in HIV treatment are necessary to end AIDS as a public health threat, strategies for HIV cure are needed.

The HIV Forum convenes the HIV Treatment and Cure Project to facilitate consensus around research and regulatory issues to accelerate development of novel and innovative options for HIV treatment and cure. While any approach to HIV treatment and cure will be considered, there is a particular focus on broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). BnAbs are a promising new strategy against HIV as they can directly inhibit HIV replication by targeting viral epitopes and indirectly by enhancing the host’s immune system. As biologics, they could have a favorable side effects profile, and their long-acting nature may be desirable for many potential users. BnAbs have the potential to prevent cell-to-cell spread of HIV and eliminate latently infected cells, so they may represent a viable strategy for HIV cure, in addition to applications in HIV treatment and prevention. To achieve the goal of advancing the development of HIV treatment and cure options, the HIV Treatment and Cure Project is hosting a series of workshops involving diverse stakeholders. Each of these workshops is guided by a Planning or Scientific Advisory Committee.