ABSTRACT:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a global public health crisis, particularly in resource-limited settings where lifelong adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is hindered by systemic barriers and drug resistance. While ART has transitioned HIV into a manageable chronic condition, it fails to eradicate latent viral reservoirs, necessitating the development of curative strategies. This article synthesizes current evidence on emerging alternative treatments, including immunotherapy, gene-editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9, and latency reversal agents (LRAs). We evaluate the mechanisms by which these interventions target viral persistence, such as the disruption of the CCR5 co-receptor and the reactivation of dormant infected cells for immune clearance. The findings suggest that while stem cell transplantation and gene therapies offer a theoretical path to a "sterilizing cure," significant challenges regarding delivery safety, off-target effects, and scalability remain. Ultimately, this article highlights the shift toward combination therapies as the most viable route for achieving durable, ART-free viral remission, providing a comprehensive overview for researchers and clinicians working toward the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.