Gladstone Institutes: Why some people naturally control HIV even after stopping therapy — and how we can leverage that to treat others

Gladstone Institutes news story

For millions of people living with HIV, a daily regimen of medications is a lifelong necessity. If they stop taking the drugs — commonly referred to as antiretroviral therapy — the virus usually rushes back within weeks.

But not for everyone; scientists have been baffled by rare individuals who, after stopping the drug regimen, keep the virus under control for months or even years.

In a study published in the journal Immunity, scientists begin to reveal why that is — and in doing so, uncover possible new paths toward long-term health for people living with HIV without the need for antiretroviral therapy.

Among their key findings, the team discovered two specific genes inside infected cells that act like security locks to keep the virus asleep. And perhaps most significantly, they also found that a common diabetes drug, metformin, can activate one of these locks to keep the virus in its dormant state.

Read the full news story and watch a short video here.