The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Achieving Functional HIV Cure: A Narrative Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

Nakaziya Obutuzi G.

Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a global health challenge, with approximately 38 million people living with the virus worldwide. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, it is not a cure, as it fails to eliminate latent viral reservoirs and requires lifelong adherence. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-based gene editing has emerged as a groundbreaking technology with the potential to achieve a functional HIV cure by exercising integrated proviral DNA or editing host genes essential for viral replication, such as CCR5. This narrative review synthesized preclinical and clinical evidence on CRISPR-based interventions for HIV cure, focusing on strategies such as proviral excision, host gene editing, and dual-targeting approaches. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility of CRISPR in exercising HIV DNA and conferring resistance to infection, while early-phase clinical trials are exploring the safety and efficacy of these interventions in humans. However, significant challenges remain, including off-target effects, delivery efficiency, immune responses, and the persistence of latent reservoirs. The methodology employed in this review involved a comprehensive synthesis of preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and limitations of CRISPR-based strategies. The findings suggested that CRISPR technology holds immense promise for achieving a functional HIV cure, but interdisciplinary collaboration and careful navigation of ethical and regulatory considerations will be essential for translating these innovations into safe and effective therapies.

Keywords: CRISPR-Cas9, HIV Cure, Gene Editing, Latent Reservoirs, CCR5 Editing.

CITE AS: Nakaziya Obutuzi G. (2025).The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Achieving Functional HIV Cure: A Narrative Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. INOSR Scientific Research 12(1):12-16. https://doi.org/10.59298/INOSRSR/2025/12.1.1216100