Can HIV/AIDS Be Cured? The Role of Drug Testing in Antiretroviral Therapy
- Overview of the HIV Virus and Its Impact on the Immune System
- HIV as a Global and National Health Challenge
- Why HIV Remains Difficult to Cure?
- Why Drug Testing Is Essential for Antiretroviral Therapy?
Overview of the HIV Virus and Its Impact on the Immune System
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus belonging to the Retroviridae family. This virus attacks the human immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells, which play a crucial role in fighting infections.
If left untreated, HIV infection can progress to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), an advanced stage of the disease characterized by severe weakening of the immune system, making patients highly susceptible to opportunistic infections (diseases that occur in individuals with weakened immune systems and would not normally affect healthy people).
HIV as a Global and National Health Challenge
HIV was first discovered in 1983 and has since become one of the major global health challenges, with millions of cases worldwide. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people are living with HIV, and 630,000 of them have died from HIV-related illnesses.
Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, by mid-2025, there were approximately 564,000 people living with HIV in Indonesia, with 63% of them aware of their status. With advancements in scientific knowledge and medical technology, numerous efforts have been made to develop effective therapies. However, the question remains: Can people infected with HIV/AIDS truly be cured?
Why HIV Remains Difficult to Cure?
HIV remains extremely difficult to cure due to several key factors:
- The presence of a “latent viral reservoir” in the body
A portion of HIV hides within CD4+ T cells in an inactive state, meaning it does not produce new viral proteins or particles until triggered by certain physiological conditions. This latency makes infected cells difficult for the immune system to detect and destroy, allowing the virus to remain hidden in the body. When treatment is stopped, the virus can become active again within weeks, and its level can rise rapidly to pre-treatment levels. - HIV integrates its genetic material into human DNA
During its life cycle, HIV has the unique ability to insert its genetic material into the DNA of human cells. Once this integration occurs, the viral genome becomes a permanent part of the host cell’s DNA, making it impossible for the body to completely eliminate the virus without destroying the infected cells themselves. - High genetic variation and mutation rate
HIV is one of the most rapidly mutating viruses known. These mutations enable the virus to evade the immune system, quickly develop resistance to drugs, and hinder vaccine development. - Immune system exhaustion
T cells are a vital component of the immune system responsible for destroying infected cells. When T-cell responses are continuously activated, they can cause significant damage to target cells. However, in chronic infections, constant exposure to high levels of viral antigens leads to severe dysfunction known as T-cell exhaustion. In this state, immune cells lose their ability to effectively recognize and eliminate infected cells.
Why Drug Testing Is Essential for Antiretroviral Therapy?
Although no medication can completely cure HIV, antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can effectively suppress viral replication. This slows disease progression, helps restore immune function, improves the quality of life of people living with HIV, and reduces the risk of transmission.
ARV treatment does not eradicate the virus, but it can maintain the viral load at very low levels, allowing individuals with HIV to live long and healthy lives. Antiretroviral therapy is a drug-based treatment that plays a crucial role in suppressing viral replication and maintaining immune system function.
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The Role of Validation in Ensuring the Quality of Pharmaceutical Products
Because these medicines are used long term and taken regularly, antiretroviral drugs must meet strict requirements for quality, safety, and effectiveness. This is where drug testing becomes essential, not only to comply with regulatory requirements but also to ensure that pharmaceutical products truly perform as intended and are safe for patients.
To support the use of safe and effective medicines, drug testing in a competent laboratory is a critical step in the development and oversight of pharmaceutical products. IML Testing and Research provides comprehensive drug testing services based on scientific standards to ensure the quality, safety, and performance of medicines before they are used and distributed. Make sure every drug-based therapy is supported by accurate and reliable testing data.
Author: Jihan
Editor: Sabilla Reza
References:
Cummins, N. W., & Badley, A. D. (2015). Can HIV Be Cured and Should We Try?. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 90(6), 705–709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.03.008
Fenwick, C., Joo, V., Jacquier, P., Noto, A., Banga, R., Perreau, M., & Pantaleo, G. (2019). T-cell exhaustion in HIV infection. Immunological reviews, 292(1), 149–163. https://doi.org/10.1111/imr.12823
Swinkels HM, Nguyen AD, Gulick PG. HIV and AIDS. (2024). In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534860/
World Health Organization. (2025). HIV and AIDS. Accessed on november 7, 2025 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
