United States pharmaceutical companies have a total of 40 new antiretrovirals, three possible gene therapy treatments, and several therapeutic vaccine candidates under development for treatment of HIV, according to a new report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a pharmaceutical company lobbying group, releases a report each year on HIV treatments under development at U.S. pharmaceutical companies. The report this year includes new antiretrovirals, gene therapies, and vaccine candidates, in addition to treatments for HIV-related conditions such as Kaposi’s sarcoma…

A number of clinical trials that will explore gene therapy as a treatment for people with HIV are currently recruiting participants. The trials will use gene therapy to try to supplement or replace antiretroviral therapy.

Gene therapy treatments are experimental procedures that scientists hope will one day be able to cure HIV. While highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly increased life expectancy and improved quality of life for people with HIV, it is not a cure for a HIV and the virus can develop mutations which are resistant to…

A recent study presented at the annual American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT) meeting found that hematopoietic (blood) stem cell therapy was promising in the management and treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Geoff Symonds, one of the authors of the study and now Chief Scientific Officer of Calimmune, Inc., said his research while at Johnson & Johnson and Calimmune — which involves the therapeutic use of hematopoietic stem cells with protective genes — has the potential to safely and effectively provide permanent control over HIV.

These hematopoietic stem cells, which…