HIV treatment has evolved from a death sentence to a chronic condition managed with daily pills. People with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy consistently can expect normal lifespans and cannot transmit the virus sexually. Research now focuses on long-acting options, curative strategies, and prevention tools.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing long-acting cabotegravir injections that replace daily pills, broadly neutralizing antibodies that may control HIV without drugs, and gene therapies that modify immune cells to resist the virus. Researchers are also studying ways to flush HIV out of hidden reservoirs where it persists despite treatment.
Long-acting therapies
Twice-yearly injections of lenacapavir are now FDA-approved for treatment and prevention. Trials are testing other long-acting combinations that could replace daily pills with monthly or quarterly dosing.
Cure research
Studies are testing broadly neutralizing antibodies, therapeutic vaccines, and gene editing to eliminate or permanently control HIV. A handful of people have been cured through stem cell transplants, and researchers are working to make such approaches safer and more accessible.
Prevention tools
Beyond daily pills like tenofovir/emtricitabine, trials are testing long-acting injectable cabotegravir and antibodies for pre-exposure prophylaxis. These options could make HIV prevention more practical for people who struggle with daily medication.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on viral load, CD4 count, prior antiretroviral experience, resistance testing results, and other health conditions like hepatitis B or kidney function.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new antiretroviral drugs or combinations, often comparing them to current standard regimens to see if they work as well with fewer side effects or simpler dosing.
- Long-acting trials — Studies of injectable or implantable HIV medications that could replace daily pills with monthly, quarterly, or yearly dosing.
- Cure trials — Testing approaches like broadly neutralizing antibodies, therapeutic vaccines, or gene therapy that aim to eliminate HIV or allow the immune system to control it without medication.
- Prevention trials — Testing pre-exposure prophylaxis options, including pills, injections, and vaginal rings, to prevent HIV infection in people at risk.
- Observational studies — Following people with HIV over time to understand long-term health outcomes, side effects, and factors that predict treatment success.
Recently added HIV trials
Impacts of HIV Treatment Regimens on Archived Drug Resistance
The study aims to determine the prevalence of drug resistance mutation (DRM) in virally suppressed HIV infection, and the impacts of regimen change and the presence of low level viremia. Adults living with HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with full viral suppression would be recruited. Cases are patients planning for regimen switch, while controls are those with and without low level viraemia (LLV) not planned for switch. Blood samples would be collected before and after switch. Sequencing would be performed to identify DRM present in HIV-1 proviral DNA.
Targeted Therapies for Immunological Non-Responders in People With HIV: A Multicenter Clinical Study
This study focuses on people with HIV who experience incomplete immune reconstitution despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), characterized by persistently low CD4⁺ T cell counts and residual inflammation. The underlying cause is largely attributed to the persistent HIV latent reservoir. Recent evidence indicates that rilpivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) commonly used in ART, has an immunomodulatory function beyond its antiviral activity. It activates the CARD8 inflammasome - an intracellular "kill switch" - triggering pyroptosis selectively in HIV-infected cells. In this study, rilpivirine will be added to suppressive ART in patients with incomplete immune reconstitution. The investigators hypothesize that this strategy will reduce the latent reservoir, restore CD4⁺ T cell counts and function, attenuate excessive immune activation, and ultimately improve long-term clinical outcomes.
Find HIV trials matched specifically to you
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll show you trials that fit your situation.