May 8, 2020 - Contrary to antiretroviral drugs, gene therapy could be used to give the human body immunity to HIV. Dr. David Hardy, a member of American Gene Technologies (AGT)’s HIV Scientific Advisory Board, tells his story of his lifelong commitment to mitigate the effects of the HIV virus. In the past, he helped to treat the symptoms of the virus as best as he could. Today, he is advising AGT as they pursue a gene therapy treatment intended to give patients ultimate immunity to the HIV virus.
Dr. Hardy shares that over 40 million people worldwide have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. Over the years, patients have only been able to take antiretroviral treatments to help to control the disease. Today, Dr. Hardy says, “I believe the final solution for a cure is going to involve gene therapy.”
Each day, AGT takes steps towards creating a gene therapy that could help the human body develop an immunity to HIV. For more information about American Gene Technologies progress in gene and cell therapy research, visit: www.americangene.com
Topics or key statements mentioned in this video include:
- HIV impacted 40 million people globally and 1.5 million in the US
- Antiretroviral therapies prolong HIV+ lives but do not save lives and we need HIV cure research
- Right now we are controlling the virus vs. develop HIV immunity
- We should approach HIV pandemic with a cure; a one-time treatment and a life without continuous antiretroviral treatment
- “I would know my patients for about 6 months and then they would die” (when he began his research)
- “I believe the final solution for a cure is going to involve gene therapy”
- “HIV can be cured; we can do it”
