Open AccessWhy and where an HIV cure is needed and how it might be achieved
Author(s) -
Thumbi Ndung’u,
Joseph M. McCune,
Steven G. Deeks
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nature
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 15.993
H-Index - 1226
eISSN - 1476-4687
pISSN - 0028-0836
DOI - 10.1038/s41586-019-1841-8
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , intensive care medicine , antiretroviral therapy , medicine , resource (disambiguation) , investment (military) , developing country , economic growth , business , development economics , political science , economics , nursing , family medicine , viral load , computer science , computer network , politics , law
Despite considerable global investment, only 60% of people who live with HIV currently receive antiretroviral therapy. The sustainability of current programmes remains unknown and key incidence rates are declining only modestly. Given the complexities and expenses associated with lifelong medication, developing an effective curative intervention is now a global priority. Here we review why and where a cure is needed, and how it might be achieved. We argue for expanding these efforts from resource-rich regions to sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere: for any intervention to have an effect, region-specific biological, therapeutic and implementation issues must be addressed.