A 63-year-old man, identified as the Oslo patient, is likely cured of HIV after receiving a stem-cell transplant that rebuilt his immune system. The procedure involved cells from his brother, who possesses a rare genetic mutation conferring HIV resistance.
This remarkable outcome occurred after the patient was diagnosed with HIV in 2006 and later developed myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow cancer. A stem cell transplant was pursued to treat the cancer, with doctors discovering the donor brother's HIV-resistant genetic makeup mid-procedure.
Following the transplant, the patient experienced graft-versus-host disease but responded to treatment. Extensive analysis revealed his new immune system shows no trace of the virus, allowing him to stop antiretroviral therapy. Doctors are cautiously optimistic, calling it a "likely cure" and a significant step towards future HIV treatments.