CAR-T Cell Therapy Suppresses HIV

Scientists, led by Steven Deeks of the University of California, San Francisco, are developing a CAR-T cell therapy to combat HIV. This therapy involves genetically engineering a patient's own T cells to find and kill HIV-infected cells while also protecting themselves from the virus. In an early-stage experiment, a single dose of these CAR-T cells strongly suppressed HIV in two patients for nearly a year and two years, respectively, without the need for their usual medications. Caring Cross, a nonprofit drug developer, created these specialized CAR-T cells. While promising, larger and longer studies are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of this potential cure. The data is being presented at a meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Boston. This development offers hope for the nearly 40 million people living with HIV worldwide, potentially providing a long-sought cure beyond current chronic treatments.