Standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to greatly suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease. These drugs do not kill or cure the virus but, prevent the growth of the virus. The aim of antiretroviral treatment is to keep the amount of HIV in the body at a low level. This stops any weakening of the immune system and allows it to recover from any damage that HIV might have caused.