The elusive HIV cure inches closer in 2025, with clinical breakthroughs illuminating paths to sustained viral control without lifelong antiretrovirals. A UCSF-led study reveals experimental immunotherapy enabling seven of ten participants to maintain undetectable HIV levels post-treatment cessation, one sustaining remission for over 18 months—offering a blueprint for scalable functional cures. This regimen, blending broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) like teropavimab and zinlirvimab with lenacapavir, achieved Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA, accelerating Phase 3 trials for twice-yearly dosing that could suppress reservoirs in diverse populations.
Gilead’s CROI 2025 presentations spotlight lenacapavir’s dual role: as a capsid inhibitor yielding near-100% PrEP efficacy in PURPOSE trials, now endorsed by WHO for biannual injections in high-burden regions like Eswatini and Zambia, targeting 2 million doses by 2028. Complementing this, a Nature study documents the seventh cure via heterozygous CCR5Δ32 stem cell transplant, sustaining remission sans ART and underscoring CCR5-independent mechanisms for broader applicability beyond elite controllers.
Case Western Reserve’s revelation of HIV’s dormancy tactic—inducing cellular senescence to evade detection—unlocks “shock-and-kill” refinements, where reactivating latent proviruses triggers apoptosis in infected cells, slashing reservoirs in preclinical models. BioNTech’s mRNA strategies and CRISPR edits further personalize remission, with pharmacogenomics tailoring regimens to genetic profiles for minimized side effects. Amid 1.3 million new infections annually, these advances—fusing antibodies, capsids, and genomics—signal a pivotal shift: functional cures within reach by decade’s end, potentially eradicating AIDS as a public health threat.
