A 60-year-old German man has been identified as the seventh person to appear cured of HIV, according to recent research. Known as the “next Berlin Patient,” he received a stem cell transplant in October 2015 for acute myeloid leukemia. Since stopping his antiretroviral medication in September 2018, he has not shown detectable levels of HIV in nearly six years, suggesting a successful eradication of the virus.
The case provides new insights into potential HIV gene therapies. Traditionally, previous HIV cure cases involved stem cell transplants from donors with two copies of the CCR5-delta32 mutation, which confers immunity to HIV by blocking the virus from entering immune cells. However, this patient’s donor had only one copy of the CCR5-delta32 mutation, a variation not typically associated with complete HIV immunity.
German Patient Cured of HIV: Significant Findings from Stem Cell Transplant with Partial CCR5 Mutation
Researchers noted that despite the donor’s partial mutation, the patient remained HIV-free, marking a significant finding. Dr. Olaf Penack from Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, who treated the man, highlighted that more individuals with one copy of the CCR5-delta32 mutation are available compared to those with two copies, potentially increasing future treatment opportunities.
The patient’s case will be presented at the 25th International AIDS Conference, where Dr. Christian Gaebler from the same hospital will discuss its implications. Gaebler found it surprising that the HIV was eradicated despite the donor’s partial mutation and noted that in prior cases where the donor did not possess full immunity, the virus had returned.
The findings may expand the potential donor pool for stem cell transplants and offer hope for future gene therapy approaches. While stem cell transplants are complex and risky, typically used only for severe cases with other illnesses, the success of this case could encourage further research and exploration into less drastic methods for curing HIV.
