Stem Cell Treatment Likely Cures Seventh Person Of HIV, But Still No Cure Immanent
A German man has reportedly been cured of HIV after a unique stem cell transplant nearly a decade ago, according to findings announced on Thursday. This news, reported by Forbes, makes him possibly the seventh person worldwide to be cured of the virus that still affects approximately 39 million people globally.
The man, referred to as the “next Berlin patient,” stopped taking antiretroviral treatment in late 2018. He had received a stem cell transplant for leukemia in 2015. Researchers shared this ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Munich, noting that he remains in HIV remission.
This case is notable because it’s the first where HIV was cured in a patient whose stem cell donor had a single HIV-resistant mutation, rather than two. Dr Christian Gaebler highlighted that this could have “promising implications” for future cure strategies.
Though HIV can still spread to people with the mutation, it progresses slowly without antiretroviral treatment. This case suggests that the donor pool for such treatments can be broadened, according to Sharon Lewis, president of the International AIDS Society.
The first person cured of HIV was Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin patient,” in 2009. He was followed by the “London patient” ten years later, and then the “City Of Hope” and “New York” patients in 2022. Last year, the “Geneva patient” and the “Düsseldorf patient” also appeared to be cured. All six underwent stem cell transplants for blood cancer, with the first five receiving an HIV-resistant mutation from their donor.
According to the World Health Organisation, 39 million people worldwide are living with HIV.
Researchers have been exploring stem cell transplants as a treatment, using anti-HIV genes or mutations to combat the virus. If untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The virus is often detected through flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after infection, but diagnosis is only possible through testing.
There Is Still No Cure, Keep Taking Your Meds
It’s important to remember that while some people have been cured following stem cell treatment and bone marrow transplants, there is no general cure for HIV and likely won’t be for a very long time. For sexually active people, using PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and antiretrovirals are the best ways to manage HIV. When used correctly, these treatments effectively reduce the risk of transmission to zero and help people living with HIV maintain a healthy life.
