HIV, a debilitating infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), attacks the immune system, destroying cells and weakening the body's defenses.

Despite being discovered over 40 years ago, a vaccine for HIV remains elusive, with only a handful of rare cases of successful cures—and none that could be replicated.

However, new research offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against HIV.

At a recent medical conference, researchers from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands reportedly announced success using gene-editing technology to purge HIV-infected cells.

This gene-editing technology works much like a pair of molecular scissors that can snip DNA, thereby excising or otherwise disabling HIV-infected cells.

Existing HIV medications reportedly only suppress the virus without eradicating it. If this novel technology advances, it could potentially eliminate HIV altogether.

Regrettably, the technology is still in its early "proof of concept" phase and requires extensive testing to confirm its efficacy. It may be a considerable time before it reaches clinical trials.