HIV research

HIV research - what does this mean?

HIV research includes all scientific work relating to HIV:

• PreventionVaccines, PrEP tablets, PrEP injections, new active substances
• Treatment: better combination therapies, long-term injections, fewer side effects
• HealingStrategies to permanently remove or completely eliminate HIV from the body

The aims of the research are, for example

• Prevent infections
• Making therapies simpler and more tolerable
• to improve the quality of life of people with HIV
• to achieve a long-term cure or functional recovery

You can already see many results in everyday life: very effective medication, U=U, PrEP and now also injections for prevention and treatment.

Vaccines and antibodies

Is there an HIV vaccination?
Still no: there is no authorised vaccine that reliably protects against HIV infection. Several large vaccination studies with so-called mosaic vaccines or vector vaccines have been terminated because the protection was not sufficient.

Nevertheless, the work continues:

• Broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs)
  These are antibodies that can recognise and block many different HIV variants in the laboratory. Studies are examining whether infusions or injections at longer intervals protect against infection.
• mRNA approaches
  Similar to COVID 19 vaccines, mRNA is intended to instruct the immune system to specifically produce very broad antibodies against HIV. This would require several vaccination steps over a longer period of time.
• Therapeutic vaccinations
  These are aimed at people who are already living with HIV. The aim is to strengthen the immune system so that less medication would be necessary or longer breaks would be possible. This is still a long way off.

In short: progress is being made, but there is no vaccine for everyday use yet. This is why other methods of protection remain important.

Syringe for protection against HIV (PrEP)

For a long time, PrEP was only known as Tablet available. Now there is also Long-term PrEP as an injection:

• Lenacapavir is a long-acting active ingredient that is administered as a subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin).
• The European Commission authorised lenacapavir as PrEP in August 2025.
• The injection is administered every six months - i.e. only twice a year.
• In large studies, lenacapavir almost completely prevented the risk of HIV infection.

Important:

• The syringe works only against HIV, not against other STIs.
• It is a form of PrEP, no vaccination and no cure.
• Whether and how you can get it depends on the authorisation, cost coverage and services available in your country or region - HIV focus practices and AIDS service organisations can advise you on this.

For some people, it is easier to have an injection twice a year than to take tablets every day or on specific occasions - HIV research is making prevention more suitable for everyday use.

Syringe for the treatment of HIV

In therapy, too, there are now Injections instead of daily tablets:

• Since December 2020, the EU has Long-term therapy with cabotegravir plus rilpivirine authorised (often referred to as Vocabria plus Rekambys).
• The two injections are given into the muscle by medical staff - depending on the scheme, for example Monthly or every two months.
• They are intended for people with HIV whose viral load is already well controlled and undetectable.

What's the point?

• No more daily intake of tablets
• More discreet, because there is no medication lying around at home
• For many, it is easier to go to an appointment every one or two months than to think about tablets every day

But the following also applies here: The therapy does not cure HIV, It keeps the viral load low. U=U has the same effect as tablets - just in a different form.

Healing research - how close are we?

Time and again we read about people who apparently no longer had any detectable HIV in their bodies after a stem cell transplant („Berlin patient“, „London patient“, etc.). These cases are important for research - but:

• The transplants were life-saving treatments for cancer, not primarily for HIV.
• They are risky, expensive and not suitable as a standard procedure.

Current approaches in healing research:

• „Shock and kill“ or „block and lock“ - activate dormant virus reservoirs and destroy them in a targeted manner or block them so that they no longer become active.
• Combinations of bNAbs, therapeutic vaccinations and long-term medication.
• Genetic processes designed to make cells resistant to HIV.

To date, there is no method that can be used safely, widely and with an acceptable level of risk. In everyday life, HIV therefore remains a chronic but easily treatable infection.

Securely protected - even today

Even though HIV research has not yet produced a vaccine or a cure for all, the existing protection options are very strong:

• Condoms
  High protection against HIV and many other STIs. The right size, enough lubricant and a look at the expiry date are important.
• PrEP tablet
  Very effective if taken correctly - daily or on an ad hoc basis. Regular HIV and STI checks are part of the programme.
• PrEP injection (lenacapavir)
  One injection every six months. This is particularly practical if you have sex irregularly or tablets are difficult to fit into your daily routine.
• Protection through therapy (U=U)
  People with HIV whose viral load is undetectable under effective treatment do not pass on HIV during sex.
• PEP (emergency measure)
  Emergency medication after a risk (e.g. broken condom). Start as soon as possible, within 48 hours at the latest, usually take for 28 days.
• Tests and counselling
  Regular HIV and STI tests provide clarity

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about HIV research

More about HIV

• HIV and oral sex?
• Research
• Treatment & Therapy
• Positive. What now?
• HIV transmission

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