1. Curing HIV requires overcoming the virus’s ability to evolve There have been many attempts to cure HIV through as many different mechanisms. A common fail point is that HIV is capable of evolving around a therapeutic mechanism given appropriate conditions. Any cure for HIV must overcome, or even better, utilize, it’s penchant for change. Lethal mutagenesis uses HIV’s genomic promiscuity to bring it down.

2. Viral Specificity and Lack of Cytotoxicity are key in implementing Lethal Mutagenesis In pushing HIV to evolutionary catastrophe, it’s important to leave the human host unharmed. Viral mutagen must be administered in doses low enough to avoid cytotoxicity. Viral mutagen must not be metabolized into a harmful molecule. Viral mutagen must not alter genomic and mitochondrial DNA.

3. Progression of Lethal Mutagenesis has seen the development of more potent viral mutagens Loeb, et. al. used 5’-OH-dC. While it proved that viral ablation through evolution was possible, the concentrations of drug required were near the cytotoxity limit. Harris et. al. find in KP-1212 a drug that can be used in much lower doses with better results.