As the international AIDS conference in Malaysia wrapped up on July 3, experts from around the world ended their lectures on a positive note, speaking of the encouraging research news. The hope of developing a cure to cure the disease in the near future is growing.
The researchers took stock of positive advances, including the case of “mississippi baby“, a little girl infected with the virus during pregnancy and treated from her 30th hour of life who no longer shows any trace of HIV in her blood. Among others, two American HIV-positive patients who received a bone marrow transplant to treat their leukemia also seem cured. They stopped their treatment respectively 15 and 7 weeks ago and the virus is no longer in their blood.
This news is encouraging and, while it does not mean that a miracle cure is possible in the short term, it opens the door to significant research possibilities.
Scientists hope to achieve at least lasting control of the disease, so that patients no longer have to take antiretroviral therapy throughout their lives.
