His case is special. Previous successes in long-term remission had used donated stem cells carrying a mutation in the CCR5 gene. Called CCR5\u039432, this version of the gene blocks HIV\u2019s ability to infect and destroy immune cells, rendering the virus incapable replicating. The Oslo patient carried one copy of the protective gene variant but was still infected. His donor brother, unexpectedly, had two copies.<\/p>\n
In three months, the patient\u2019s immune cells were clear of viral genetic material. Now, two years after ending antiviral medication, he is \u201chaving a great time\u201d with more energy than he knows what to do with, study author Anders Eivind Myhre at the Oslo University Hospital told<\/a> Agence France-Presse. “For all practical purposes, we are quite certain that he is cured.”<\/p>\n Sneaky Virus<\/p>\n Thanks to antiviral drugs, HIV is no longer a death sentence. And HIV preexposure prophylaxis<\/a>, or PrEP, reduces the chances of infection in high-risk populations. Though it once required daily pills, the FDA recently approved<\/a> a twice-a-year shot, making prevention less of a headache. But access remains uneven worldwide, and many hesitate to seek the drugs for fear of stigma.<\/p>\n Neither drug is a cure. The HIV virus attacks T cells and gradually destroys the body\u2019s defenses. Over time, even mundane infections like a cold or the flu become harder to fight. As HIV replicates, it infiltrates hidden reservoirs\u2014the gut is a common holdout\u2014and embeds itself in DNA across the body.<\/p>\n Antiviral drugs keep active HIV in check but can\u2019t touch reservoirs. Even after years of control, the virus rebounds as soon as treatment stops. To truly conquer HIV, we need a cure.<\/p>\n Fewer than 10 people worldwide have beaten the virus after an immune system reset. The first case<\/a>, in 2009, was a lucky surprise. Known as the Berlin patient, a man received a stem cell transplant for a lethal blood cancer\u2014and the cells kept HIV at bay for 20 months without drugs. The donor stem cells carried two copies of the CCR5\u039432 mutation, revealing its potent protective effect.<\/p>\n Other successes<\/a> followed<\/a> with stem cells carrying double and single<\/a> copies of CCR5\u039432, and even normal versions<\/a> of the gene\u2014suggesting unknown factors are critical \u201cfor an eradicating HIV cure,\u201d wrote the team.<\/p>\n Winning the Lottery, Twice<\/p>\n Treating HIV wasn\u2019t the Norwegian man\u2019s first priority when he agreed to a stem cell transplant.<\/p>\n Diagnosed in 2006, he\u2019d kept the virus suppressed for over a decade with antiviral drugs. Repeated tests found no detectable viral genetic material in his blood, and he was able to live a relatively normal life.<\/p>\n But in 2017, he began struggling with extreme fatigue. His blood cell counts plummeted: Including the cells carrying oxygen, fighting off infections, and preventing uncontrolled bleeding. The life-threatening condition was eventually traced to a bone marrow disease. Several treatments briefly kept symptoms in check, but then they returned. His only option was a bone marrow transplant.<\/p>\n The patient\u2019s care team searched for immune-compatible donors who also carried two copies of the CCR5\u039432 mutation, hoping to simultaneously treat the blood disorder and HIV. It\u2019s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, said<\/a> study author Marius Tr\u00f8seid in a press release.<\/p>\n As the patient\u2019s health rapidly declined, the team focused on treating the bone marrow disease with his 60-year-old brother as the donor. On transplant day, they realized they\u2019d hit the jackpot\u2014the brother carried both copies of CCR5\u039432.<\/p>\n “We had no idea…That was amazing,” said<\/a> Myhre.<\/p>\n Brotherly Love<\/p>\n The HIV-resistant stem cells began replacing the patient\u2019s own cells within 90 days. Two years on, the transplanted cells had fully repopulated his bone marrow\u2014which is where blood cells are born\u2014and cured the bone marrow disease.<\/p>\n The immune system reboot also allowed the patient to end antiviral medications. Four years after the transplant, the donor cells had completely taken over in multiple organs, including the lower gut\u2014a known reservoir for HIV.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time a bone marrow transplant has achieved total replacement in the gut, wrote the team.<\/p>\n Tests in more than 65 million T cells, HIV\u2019s main targets, failed to detect intact genetic material needed for the virus to grow and spread. The results suggest the \u201cHIV reservoir had been eliminated,\u201d wrote the team.<\/p>\n The man\u2019s immune system seemed to forget the virus. Viral antibodies gradually faded, and newly minted T cells patrolled the body as usual. Liberated from the constant threat of HIV, the body\u2019s immune defenses returned to health\u2014as if he had never been infected.<\/p>\n But the therapy wasn\u2019t all smooth sailing. Roughly a month and a half after transplant, the man experienced severe graft-versus-host disease, where transplanted cells viciously attack the body. A combination of drugs eventually quelled the assault. In a twist, a deeper analysis suggests the drugs treating the immune attack might have also helped fight the virus.<\/p>\n A bone marrow transplant is a last resort and only used to treat people with HIV who also have deadly bone marrow disorders. Roughly 10 to 20 percent<\/a> of patients die from the procedure within a year, regardless of underlying disease. For now, antivirals remain the first option for millions of people living with the virus. But these unique cases of full, long-term remission shed light on how the virus behaves.<\/p>\n Scientists are still trying to define what \u201ccure\u201d means when it comes to HIV.<\/p>\n \u201cMoving forward, a critical step will be to compare existing cases of HIV cure to identify the most effective combination of biomarkers,\u201d wrote the team. For example, do decreased viral load, antibodies, or a boost in healthy T cells amount to a cure? How long should the changes last? And did the patient struggle with HIV even though he had a single copy of CCR5\u039432?<\/p>\n Individual cases only offer a glimpse into HIV\u2019s complexity. Projects like the European-led IciStem<\/a> are underway to consolidate case results<\/a> so scientists can better share findings and ideas\u2014and potentially beat HIV once and for all.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Singularity_BioTech_Essentials_ad.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n