The persistence of latent HIV within T cells, which is maintained in part by the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs), means that it is difficult to eradicate HIV infection. Archin et al. investigated the effects of the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat in patients with HIV who were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Following initial safety and tolerability dosing, each of eight patients given a single dose of vorinostat had increased HIV RNA expression (a proximal measure of reduced latent infection) in resting T cells. This suggests that HDAC inhibitors — which are already approved for cancer indications — could be used clinically to awaken latent HIV.