Valproic acid and HIV-1 latency: beyond the sound bite

A recent publication in Lancet by Dr. David Margolis and colleagues raised the prospect that HIV infection may be curable. In this pilot study, which received much attention from the press, Dr. Margolis'group found that valproic acid plus enfuvirtide reduces the pool of CD4(+ )T-cells, which are latently infected with HIV-1, the so-called viral reservoir. This commentary critically addresses current data on this topic.