New study suggests a class of drugs already being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, may hold the key to complete eradication of HIV. A team led by researchers from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in La Jolla, CA, reveals how drugs called Smac mimetics suppress dormant HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cells among patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is a combination of at least three antiretroviral drugs that slows the progression of HIV.
While the treatment has led to significant reductions in death rates from HIV around the globe, the search continues for a way to eliminate the disease once and for all. Antiretroviral drugs work by preventing HIV cells from multiplying, reducing levels of the virus in the body and giving the immune system the opportunity to stave off other infections. However, HIV is never…
