In a groundbreaking announcement, a 60-year-old German man has become the seventh person to be effectively cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant. This procedure, typically reserved for individuals with both HIV and aggressive leukaemia, is not a viable option for the vast majority of the nearly 40 million people worldwide living with the deadly virus. The man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has been dubbed the “next Berlin patient” in reference to the original Berlin patient, Timothy Ray Brown, who was declared cured of HIV in 2008 but tragically succumbed to cancer in 2020. This remarkable news comes just ahead of the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.
The German man was diagnosed with HIV in 2009 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2015 as part of his treatment for leukaemia. Following the risky procedure with a 10 percent risk of mortality, which essentially replaces the patient’s immune system, he ceased taking anti-retroviral drugs in late 2018. Nearly six years later, he remains free from both HIV and cancer, according to medical researchers. While the patient’s case is highly suggestive of an HIV cure, there remains some uncertainty about whether every trace of the virus has been eradicated. Researchers caution against using the term “cure” due to the need for long-term follow-up in such cases.
Unlike other HIV patients who achieved long-term remission, the new Berlin patient received stem cells from a donor with only one mutated copy of the CCR5 gene, rather than the rare double mutation seen in the previous cases. This opens up the potential donor pool significantly, as around 15 percent of people of European descent carry one mutated copy of the gene compared to just one percent with both copies. The success of this new case is not only a milestone in individual treatment but also holds promise for developing an HIV cure that can benefit a broader range of patients.
The case of the latest Berlin patient is significant in that it challenges previous notions about the necessity of completely eliminating the CCR5 gene for successful gene therapy. While most previous successful cases involved donors with a double mutation in the CCR5 gene, the new patient received cells from a donor with only one mutated copy and still achieved long-term remission. This opens up new possibilities for gene therapy and potentially streamlines the search for an HIV cure that can be effective for a larger number of patients.
The news of the seventh person successfully cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant is a major breakthrough in the field of HIV research. While uncertainties remain about the long-term efficacy of the treatment and the complete eradication of the virus, this case provides hope for a future where a cure for HIV is within reach. As researchers continue to study and learn from cases like this, the prospect of a universal HIV cure that can benefit all patients grows closer, bringing new possibilities for those living with this deadly virus.
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