Program at a glance

Thanks to the widespread use and evolution of combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV became a manageable condition. Over the last 10 years, the development of newer compounds, especially 2nd generation integrase inhibitors, and the advent of new drug combinations improved clinical and virological outcomes beyond any expectations, by also addressing the major limitations of previous therapies (toxicities, drug resistance, and drug interactions). Furthermore, the horizon of antiretroviral therapy is constantly expanding with newer drug classes and different modes of delivery. Despite these optimistic achievements, to date several clinical needs in the management of people with HIV remain unmet. Indeed, a significant proportion of people are still diagnosed with advanced HIV disease, a clinical scenario that is still poorly represented in trials exploring new treatment strategies. Furthermore, many people face different challenges that persist despite availability of antiretrovirals, such as adherence issues or disengagement from care, and ageing with an increased burden of comorbidities and comedications. On one hand, this complex landscape emphasizes more and more the need for tailored approaches to each person with HIV, considering all the available antiretroviral drugs and in different combinations—sometimes also as off-label strategies even beyond what is stated by guidelines. On the other hand, it is of crucial importance to adequately compare the currently high standards of treatment with what is expected to emerge in the coming years. In this rapidly evolving and challenging landscape, "new" does not necessarily mean "better," and clinicians will need to carefully and knowingly identify individual needs, by also using social and economic resources wisely.