Translational, Bioethical, and Global Equity Challenges in the Deployment of Anti-HIV Biotherapies: From the Research Laboratory to the Most Affected Populations
| dc.contributor.author | Barack Ndenga | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-19T11:07:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-01-17 | |
| dc.description | This article confronts the most critical, non-biological frontier in the quest for an HIV cure: the ethical and logistical deployment of advanced biotherapies. As research advances toward sophisticated gene, cell, and immuno-engineering strategies, I argue that scientific feasibility alone is insufficient. This work critically examines the translational bottlenecks—from manufacturing scalability to regulatory fragmentation—and the profound bioethical dilemmas arising from deploying irreversible interventions in a non-fatal, managed disease. Most centrally, it analyzes the imminent risk of a two-tier global cure landscape and advocates for the principle of "equity-by-design"—the deliberate integration of accessibility, affordability, and justice into the core architecture of next-generation therapies. The success of an HIV cure will be measured not only in viral load, but in global health equity. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Over the past two decades, HIV research has entered an era of unprecedented technological sophistication, marked by advances in gene therapy, immuno-engineered cells, nanomedicine, and precision vaccines. Yet, I argue that scientific feasibility alone does not guarantee clinical impact. The translation of cutting-edge biotherapies into real-world benefit is constrained by ethical, logistical, economic, and geopolitical barriers—particularly in regions most affected by HIV. In this article, I critically examine the translational bottlenecks, bioethical dilemmas, and global equity challenges associated with next-generation anti-HIV biotherapies. I conclude that the ultimate success of HIV cure strategies will depend not only on biological efficacy, but on ethical legitimacy, societal trust, and deliberately engineered accessibility. Keywords : HIV cure,Global health equity,Bioethics,Translational research,Health justice,Biotherapy deployment,Manufacturing scalability,Regulatory frameworks, Access to medicines,Health systems strengthening,Gene therapy,Cell therapy,Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Community engagement,Health policy | |
| dc.description.provenance | Submitted by Barack Ndenga (ndengabarack@gmail.com) on 2026-01-17T18:54:15Z workflow start=Step: reviewstep - action:claimaction No. of bitstreams: 1 111th .pdf: 687224 bytes, checksum: 2dd37ae9ffbbcadbb5e1825632d648db (MD5) | en |
| dc.description.provenance | Step: reviewstep - action:reviewaction Approved for entry into archive by Jo Havemann (jo@africarxiv.org) on 2026-01-19T11:07:38Z (GMT) | en |
| dc.description.provenance | Made available in DSpace on 2026-01-19T11:07:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 111th .pdf: 687224 bytes, checksum: 2dd37ae9ffbbcadbb5e1825632d648db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2026-01-17 | en |
| dc.description.sponsorship | None | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/10737 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Publisher | |
| dc.title | Translational, Bioethical, and Global Equity Challenges in the Deployment of Anti-HIV Biotherapies: From the Research Laboratory to the Most Affected Populations | |
| dc.type | Article |