President Obama launches $100 million initiative to cure HIV

The Obama administration is shifting $100 million into research efforts aimed at curing HIV, President Obama announced Monday.

The initiative is aimed at developing "new therapies," he said. "The United States should be at the forefront of the discoveries how to put HIV in long-term remission without requiring lifelong therapies. Or, better yet, eliminate it completely."

Obama took an optimistic tone, pledging that the United States would "remain the global leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS" until the virus is eradicated.

"We will stand with you through every step of this journey until we reach the day possible when all men and women can protect themselves from infection, a day when all people with HIV infection have access to treatment to save their lives. The day when no babies born with HIV and AIDS and achieve what once was hard to imagine, an HIV-free generation. That's the world I want for my daughters, that's what we want for our families," he said. "If we stay focused and honor the memories of those that we've lost, if we summon the same courage they displayed by insist ongoing whatever it takes however long it takes, I believe we're going to win this fight. I'm confident that we'll do so together."

In a fact sheet published after the event, the White House clarified the $100 million would be distributed over the course of three years and would catalyze further research for new therapies to improve outcomes for people with HIV.

(source)