Virologists making progress in fight against HIV/AIDS

AIDS Treatment: Progress and Future Developments

Even though AIDS cannot be cured, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can now be treated very effectively.

Antiretroviral drugs, for instance, have been successfully used to treat HIV infection since the mid-1990s. These suppress the virus and prevent it from replicating. This means it is no longer transmissible and can be held in check. Most HIV patients receive a combination of different antiretroviral drugs, depending on the respective stages of the HIV cycle.

Effective Treatment with Antiretroviral Drugs

This therapeutic approach usually entails patients taking one or two tablets every day. The regimen is complemented by checkups, which should be carried out every three months. During those checkups, doctors measure a patient’s viral load, testing how much HIV RNA is in their blood. The lower the viral load, the better.

HIV treatment therapy has continued to improve, said Hendrik Streeck, an AIDS research specialist and the director of the Institute of Virology at Bonn University Hospital.

The latest major breakthrough, according to Streeck, was in integrase inhibitors. The integrase enzyme plays an important role in the replication of HIV and is responsible for integrating the viral DNA genome into the host cell, where it can multiply. Integrase inhibitors keep them from being able to do so.

“This drug is enormously effective,” Streeck told DW. “Integrase inhibitors have saved the lives of many patients who may already have had a very resistant viral infection and for whom there were hardly any drugs available. They are now part of every therapy.”

More effective drugs in the pipeline

One branch of AIDS research has focused on developing drugs that will cause little to no side effects in patients, even though side effects are already rare. And research into how drugs can be administered more simply and efficiently is also being carried out.

This includes, for example, research into methods that will release drugs into the body at defined intervals. Some researchers are looking into an implant to facilitate this process. A wide variety of treatments are being developed around the world, some of which are already being used in practice. Others are still in the research phase.

“More and more effective treatments are available, but the big question remains how to achieve long-term efficacy,” said Streeck. “In the near future, patients will receive an annual injection instead of swallowing a tablet every day.”

This is welcome news for people with HIV, especially as more effective treatments mean patients are not constantly reminded of their health condition.

Working on a vaccine

Even after four decades of research, virologists have been unable to develop an HIV vaccine. That said, AIDS research has, nevertheless, made significant contributions to the development of other vaccines, such as those to combat COVID-19.

“We wouldn’t have had the coronavirus vaccine so quickly if we hadn’t done all the HIV research beforehand. Many of the ideas used were developed in vaccine research,” said Streeck.

Many people want an HIV vaccine to be developed as quickly as possible. But initial success stories are often followed by setbacks. This even applies to drugs or vaccines in the advanced development stage. The latest HIV vaccine trials, for example, were stopped because they proved ineffective.

“Unfortunately, we still haven’t figured out why we can’t manage to build up sterilizing immunity,” said Streeck.

There have been eight advanced-stage efficacy studies, he told DW. “They all

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS
   • Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations
   • Indicator 3.3.2: Number of AIDS-related deaths per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors
   • Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development
   • Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are:
– Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS
– Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors
– Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
– Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations
– Indicator 3.3.2: Number of AIDS-related deaths per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age, and key populations
– Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
– Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals

These indicators can be used to measure progress in ending the epidemics of AIDS, enhancing scientific research and technological capabilities, and enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: dw.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.