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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : March 6, 2014 1:32 PM IST
A radical gene therapy to combat HIV using genetically modified cells, which are resistant to the virus, has been declared a success by scientists after its first clinical trial. The trea
tment, which has never been tested on humans before, raised patients' defences against HIV by replacing some of their natural immune cells with GM versions, the Guardian reported. Tests on people enrolled in the trial found that the disease-resistant cells multiplied in their bodies. (Read: German scientists eradicate HIV-infected cells with a new enzyme)
Half of patients were taken off their usual drugs for three months and scientists recorded reduced levels of the virus. Scientists were cautious not to draw strong conclusions from the small scale trial, which was designed to assess the safety of the therapy, but the early signs have raised their hopes. Bruce Levine, who helped to run the trial with a colleague, Carl June, at the University of Pennsylvania, said that they were encouraged by the results, as this is potentially a new therapy for HIV. (Read: Breakthrough in HIV treatment Modified HIV virus to prevent AIDS)
A few shots of modified immune cells, or perhaps even one large infusion, could become an alternative for HIV patients who currently face spending the rest of their lives on antiretroviral drugs. But Levine said any improvement in the patients' health would be welcome, even if the therapy had to be used alongside existing treatments. (Read: British scientists to begin trial of potential HIV cure)
The research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
What is HIV?
HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects the human immune system. AIDS is the final stage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. If an HIV positive person is left untreated, his/her condition deteriorates into full-blown AIDS where the immune system stops working. Thus the immune system is unable to protect the person from diseases or infections. The virus can be transmitted from an HIV positive person through the exchange of body fluids. This can happen through sexual contact, blood transfusion, needles or from a mother to child during pregnancy. Though there is no cure yet, antiretroviral treatment has proven to be very effective. (Read: HIV/AIDS Causes, Symptoms, Tests, Treatment & More)
With inputs from ANI
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