Immune-based research into finding a cure for HIV

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

An excellent review of research using immune-based approaches to cure HIV is published as an open access article in the May 2026 issue of the journal Drugs.

The challenge of finding an HIV cure currently involve solving two problems. Firstly to find a way to reduce the reservoir of latently infected immune cells that are not reached by antiretroviral treatment (ART) and secondly to boost the immune system to be able to control any residual viral replication after ART is stopped.

Both approaches are covered in this 29-page review that references 200 articles and that includes the latest research involving bNAbs, vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, cell and gene therapy, post-treatment control and combination therapy with other immune modulators, including ongoing research.

References

Wagner JA et al. Advances in Immune-Based Approaches for the Cure of HIV Infection. Drugs (2026). (02 May 2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-026-02311-3