A 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winning technique for interfering with RNA transmission (RNA is used as a method of biological communication, and this technique uses a natural molecular switch delivered as an anti-viral treatment to silence the RNA) could be used to stop the transmission of HIV and hold infections in place until a cure can be administered.
While this technique would not cure the infection, it would theorectically stop it from spreading within a patient. However, despite the newsworthiness of the article, the topic is still mostly in the theory stage. Much more testing will be necessary on animals before human trials can begin.
The application of this technique to other diseases has not yet been evaluated, but with things like the Personal Genome Project and Human Genome Project out there at various levels of progress (HGP is completed), it’s very much a possibility to see this technique take off for other illnesses.
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That’s great news, though I worry about how long it will take for this to make the jump from theory to purchasable drug. Still, this is more than a glimmer of hope.