World AIDS day - 1 December

In 1995, Timothy Brown was diagnosed with an HIV infection that he acquired while studying in Berlin. By 1997, he had developed acute myeloid leukaemia, and in 2007 underwent a stem-cell transplantation treatment after his cancer chemotherapy was unsuccessful. Doctors recognised an opportunity when one of Timothy’s matched potential donors was found to have a gene that was thought to give people ‘resistance’ to HIV infections. After a number of complications and a second bone marrow transplant in 2008 from the same donor, the treatment was considered a success. As of 2017, Timothy has been free of both his cancer and any readily detectable HIV.

The 1st of December is internationally recognised as World AIDS day, and it is one of hope.

Let’s end it.

The 2017 theme of World AIDS Day was a provocative and exciting aspiration. In recognition of the international day, the medical journal PLOS Medicine published a special issue of research articles and commentaries on HIV prevention, treatment and cure in 2017. One of the overarching themes of the collection is that while the goal of ending the HIV epidemic is in our sights, the international effort, activism, research, and support that have brought us this far will continue to be essential to take us to the end. It will probably take an even bigger effort to finish the job.

And while Timothy’s story is unique and the risks and complications of bone marrow transplants are so extremely high, it shows that a cure may be possible. However, in relation to the future eradication of HIV, a cure would only ever be part of the story.

There is much to celebrate in the global success of the current antiviral therapy. With ongoing scientific research improving our core understanding of how the virus works, antiviral treatments have advanced so far that we can currently reduce the effect that HIV has on a person to prevent the onset of AIDS and even those with well-established infections can have drastic improvements to their quality of life. HIV does not have to be the death sentence it once was. Further, the treatment can also prevent the transfer of the virus to others. Mothers with HIV can even give birth with a very high chance that the virus won’t be passed on to their baby. This treatment as prevention method is and will continue to be an incredibly important aspect for the global effort to eradicate the virus.

There is so much hope that we can one day learn enough to finally completely eradicate HIV. Indeed, future anti-retroviral therapies, vaccines and further developments of cure approaches may all need to play a role together in the elimination of this disease.

Wear a red ribbon on 1 December—and know that while HIV is still here, we can end it.