British scientists may have cured a man of HIV with experimental new therapy
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It’s very early days, but this experimental therapy could spell the end of the virus.
By Thomas Tamblyn
British scientists could be one step closer towards finding a permanent cure for HIV.
A 44-year-old social worker in London appears to be completely free of the virus after undergoing an experimental therapy technique.
The man was first given a vaccine which helped his immune system detect infected cells, and then took Vorinostat, a drug which is normally used in experimental cancer treatment trials.
The Vorinostat then activates dormant infected cells that would normally slip through the net allowing the body’s immune system to detect and kill every last infected cell.
In simple terms what this combination of treatments does is remove the camouflage that allows HIV to remain hidden and then shine a spotlight on it allowing the immune system to clearly identify infected cells and kill them.
The researchers have said that there’s an extremely long way to go before they start throwi...
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