"Promising Results: Gene Therapy Reduces HIV Reservoir and Suppresses Viral Load"
Two clinical trials have shown that gene therapy can reduce the size of the HIV reservoir and control viral loads for weeks to years. The therapy involves genetically modifying CD4 cells to disable the CCR5 gene sequence, which is the doorway through which most types of HIV enter the body. The trials found that the infusions were safe and well-tolerated, and participants experienced an increase in CD4 count and a reduction in the HIV reservoir. However, scalability of the infusion process remains an issue, and the researchers are seeking funding to develop ways to make the process easier and faster.