What might a functional cure for HIV look like? In a recent study, researchers assumed that HIV reactivation from latency occurs about once per week. They assessed three cure strategies: reducing the HIV reservoir, removing susceptible targets and eliciting immune control. A 1000-fold reservoir reduction would delay viral rebound by 20 years if treatment stopped. Removing susceptible targets may be more effective than reservoir reduction, and a therapeutic vaccine needs to block over 99% of reactivation events to have a sustained impact. Together, the effect size of any cure intervention must be assessed together with its durability and tolerability.
What should a functional cure for HIV aim to do?
