Researchers at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) have introduced an innovative therapeutic approach that could represent a major breakthrough in the fight against HIV.

The team created a targeted delivery system capable of transporting gene-editing tools into infected cells to fragment the viral genome and achieve a functional cure. 

The development, reported by China Science Daily, comes as current treatments —such as the widely used drug cocktail— successfully suppress viral replication and improve patient survival but cannot eradicate HIV.

Other emerging strategies, including immune-cell therapies and certain gene-therapy methods, still face challenges such as limited targeting accuracy, toxicity, or inability to reach latently infected cells. 

The WUST study, published in Molecular Therapy, presents the EMT-Cas12a system, which relies on engineered exosomes to deliver the CRISPR-Cas12a editing tool into cells harboring HIV.

Exosomes —tiny vesicles that act as biological messengers— offer a highly specific and safe delivery vehicle. Cas12a, often described as genetic “scissors,” can cut DNA with precision, enabling the identification and removal of both active and latent virus. 

The therapy demonstrated key advantages: strong targeting capability, enhanced safety, and the ability to make multiple coordinated cuts in the viral genome.

Tests in HIV-infected mice and blood samples from people with AIDS showed significant viral clearance and signs of immune reconstitution. In one experimental group, two out of three mice achieved complete viral elimination. 

Researchers stated that the therapy has passed medical ethics review and entered the clinical research phase, marking an important step toward future human trials. If proven safe and effective, this approach could pave the way for next-generation treatments and reshape the scientific landscape in the fight against HIV.