References UK clinical guidance from the NHS, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). Last updated: April 2026.
There is no routine cure for HIV yet. But people living with HIV in the UK today can expect a near-normal lifespan thanks to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). A small number of people have been “functionally cured” through stem cell transplants, and active research is exploring how that might eventually become a wider treatment option.
Here’s what we know about HIV cure research and what it means if you’re living with HIV now.
Order a discreet home HIV test
What “Cure” Actually Means
Researchers talk about two types of potential cure:
| Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Sterilising cure | All HIV removed from the body |
| Functional cure (remission) | HIV still present but controlled without daily medication |
Functional cure is considered more achievable in the near term. It would mean being able to stop taking daily pills without the virus returning.
Why HIV Is Hard to Cure
HIV hides in a reservoir of resting immune cells. These cells are invisible to the immune system and to ART, which only works on actively replicating virus. Stopping treatment allows the reservoir to reactivate and viral load to rebound within weeks, even after years of suppression.
The Few People Apparently Cured
A very small number of people have achieved long-term remission after receiving stem cell transplants for cancer. The donor cells had a genetic mutation (CCR5-delta32) that HIV cannot use to enter cells. These cases are important scientifically but stem cell transplantation is too risky and complex to be a routine HIV treatment.
Areas of Active Research
- “Shock and kill” strategies — waking up HIV hidden in the reservoir so the immune system or drugs can clear it
- Broadly neutralising antibodies — lab-made antibodies that attack a wide range of HIV strains
- Gene editing — modifying immune cells to be resistant to HIV (CCR5 knockout)
- Therapeutic vaccines — training the immune system to control HIV without medication
- Long-acting injectables — already available; not a cure but reduce pill burden dramatically
What This Means For You Today
If you’re living with HIV now, modern treatment is highly effective. Once-daily tablets or two-monthly injections can keep your viral load undetectable. An undetectable viral load means you cannot pass HIV on sexually (U=U), and it means you can expect to live about as long as someone without HIV.
Don’t wait for a cure before starting treatment. Starting ART as soon as possible protects your immune system and reduces long-term health problems.
Read more: What is HIV? | HIV and the immune system | HIV vaccine research
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be a cure for HIV in my lifetime?
Nobody can say for certain. Research is making progress but translating results into safe, scalable treatments takes time. For now, modern ART is the closest thing to a practical solution.
No. Stopping treatment allows HIV in the reservoir to reactivate, and viral load usually rebounds within weeks. Always discuss any treatment changes with your HIV team first.
What about the “London Patient” and “Berlin Patient”?
These are people who received stem cell transplants for cancer from donors with the CCR5-delta32 mutation. They have remained off HIV treatment with no detectable virus for years. Their cases are scientifically important but the procedure is too dangerous for anyone not already needing a transplant.
Related reading
- A to Z of Sex: Sexual Health Terms Explained
- Alcohol and HIV: What You Need to Know
- Anxiety and HIV: Coping and Getting Support
- Are All STIs Curable?
- Blood Problems and HIV: Anaemia, Low Platelets and More
Sources
- NHS — Sexual health conditions
- BASHH — UK clinical guidelines for STI management
- British HIV Association (BHIVA) — HIV treatment guidelines
- Terrence Higgins Trust — sexual health information
- UK Health Security Agency — STI surveillance data
Steve Page is a recognised expert on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and STD treatments, having published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented his research at conferences around the world. He has an in-depth understanding of the latest medical research on STDs, and is an advocate for the development of new treatments and protocols to improve the health of those affected. In addition to his research, he has dedicated his career to understanding the causes and symptoms of STDs, as well as how to best treat those impacted.
