myHIVteam

Is this case part of a potential cure for HIV?

This case is incredibly exciting and adds to what we're learning about HIV remission, but it's not yet considered a widespread cure. The "Second Berlin Patient" joins a small group of people who've achieved long-term remission without ongoing treatment.

Recently, two more Show Full Answer

Is this case part of a potential cure for HIV?

This case is incredibly exciting and adds to what we're learning about HIV remission, but it's not yet considered a widespread cure. The "Second Berlin Patient" joins a small group of people who've achieved long-term remission without ongoing treatment.

Recently, two more people (the "Chicago patient" and "Oslo patient") also achieved remission after stem cell transplants for blood cancers. The Chicago patient has been in remission for 10 months, and the Oslo patient stopped ART two years ago and remains virus-free.

What makes these cases special is that they involved stem cell transplants, which are very risky, expensive procedures only done for life-threatening cancers. The Oslo patient's donor had a rare genetic change (CCR5-delta-32) that blocks HIV from entering cells.

While these aren't cures most people can access, each case teaches researchers more about how remission might work. Scientists are now looking beyond just blocking HIV from entering cells to develop safer, more accessible treatments.

So while this isn't "the cure" yet, it's definitely a significant step forward in understanding how we might achieve remission without lifelong daily medication.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

Two More People Potentially Cured of HIV After Stem Cell Transplants