Breakthroughs in HIV

WebMD

3 days ago

It's been over 40 years since the emergence of HIV. It's killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and millions of people globally. Those numbers would be even higher without medical breakthroughs.
Let's talk about some of them.
In 1996, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) was developed. It suppresses the virus from replicating and attacking your immune system, which lowers your viral load and increases the CD4 (white blood cells that fight infections for your immune system). That reduces your risk of opportunistic infections and extends your life expectancy.
The decrease in viral load makes HIV less transmissible and helps reconstitute your immune system, but it took a while before it was known by how much This was a major breakthrough in HIV treatment and prevention. But it was hardly the first.
Perhaps the first big break came in 1983, when scientists isolated the virus that pinpointed the cause of AIDS. This revolutionized the understanding of AIDS — where it was, how it works, and how to combat it.
Then in 1985, the first HIV blood test was licensed. This was a breakthrough of sorts, because it allowed the virus to be detected before it was too late. But there was still no treatment. That came in 1987 when AZT was developed.
AZT was the first antiretroviral treatment for HIV-AIDS.
It helped and prevented mother-to-child transmission of the virus. But it had serious side effects. I've heard horrible stories from AZT survivors, but it was all that was available at the time.Until 1996, when HAART changed everything. By 1997, it was the standard of care for new HIV cases.
In 2012, it was discovered that providing HIV medication to HIV-negative people at high risk for the virus could prevent transmission, with an incredible success rate. This is called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. It was meant to be another amazing breakthrough in science.
For the first time, there was a proven method of preventing HIV transmission. The implications included ending transmission of HIV, and ending the HIV-AIDS epidemic. But PrEP hasn't been widely accepted by the public, mostly due to stigma associated with HIV and LGBTQ people.
So we're yet to achieve those goals.
The year 2016 changed my life more than any other. I was at a conference in Florida where Bruce Richman spoke about U=U. It played a huge role in my decision to become an HIV advocate. I've been an ambassador for U=U ever since.
What is U=U? Undetectable equals Untransmittable means that when you take HIV medication as prescribed, you can achieve an undetectable viral load. This means there's not enough virus in your blood to be counted.
What happens to the virus? Small amounts of it can survive but remain harmlessly dormant in your body, in small amounts known as reservoirs. The virus can't be transmitted sexually or mother to child.
People who live with HIV can safely have children with no risk of transmission to their partner or baby. This revelation was monumental and it's changed lives. It was a breakthrough in understanding.
In 2021, there came the first long-acting injectable. It was a breakthrough for those who struggled with pill fatigue or forgetfulness. Pill fatigue is a common problem, especially because there's also stigma associated with simply taking meds for HIV.
I remember learning about injectable HIV medication at a conference called CROI (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections). It's a scientific event that attracts leading experts who discuss research and findings for collective understanding. I've attended the conference twice as a community liaison and learned so much about HIV research and the experts doing it.
I learned about the potential for longer acting treatments, and about research exploring different methods of delivery, from injectable treatments to the possibility of implants. I can tell you that even a few years ago, research for a cure of HIV-AIDS was getting really exciting.
I truly believe we're close to finding a cure. Now is not the time to kill funding dedicated to this research.
I've talked about a lot of breakthroughs in HIV. This year, that list of breakthroughs adds another big advancement.
In 2025 the FDA approved a drug that can be injected twice yearly, once every 6 months. It can also be used as PrEP, which has also been approved. That's incredible!
You don't have to remember to take meds every day, carry meds with you, or be seen taking them.
I hold on to hope that one day one of these breakthroughs will change public perception of HIV. There's no reason to fear this virus as long as you have access to the medicine.
The stigma of HIV is antiquated. It's based on a mysterious disease that was a certain death sentence and only affects gay men But none of this is true anymore.
HIV is no longer the deadly disease it once was. With incredible advancements, there's no excuse for fear or stigma to exist. HIV today is nothing more than a chronic condition that's easily managed, and only getting better with time.
I believe we're close to a cure. I just learned that researchers have found a way to awaken dormant HIV cells. I find that extremely exciting and wonder if it could lead to a cure. If dormant cells can be awakened, then targeted and killed, that could be a cure. It's so exciting that we're getting closer, so it's no time for defunding HIV research and prevention efforts.