A team of Danish medical scientists lead by Dr. Søgaard at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark announced that they believe they are only months away from an HIV cure that will be both economically viable and easy to distribute.
They’ve already successfully treated HIV in human cells in vitro during laboratory testing. In fact the results proved so promising that the Danish government provided funding upwards of 20,000,000 USD for them to continue research. Clinical testing on human patients is already underway.
The technique involves forcing HIV cells (which burrow deep into “reservoirs” of human DNA) to surface. Once at the surface, HIV cells can be easily destroyed by the human immune system with the aid of a simple vaccine.
Dr. Søgaard is confident they have found a cure, having stated “I am almost certain that we will be successful in releasing the reservoirs of HIV.” Søgaard feels the main challenge is simply “getting the patients’ immune system to recognize the virus and destroy it. This depends on the strength and sensitivity of individual immune systems.”
A cure for HIV would be welcomed in Europe where medical care is predominantly socialized. Curing HIV would save European governments untold amounts of money versus financing life long treatments for HIV patients.
If the current 15 participant study on humans provides a cure, the treatment will be made available to a much wider patient dynamic.