Man shows no signs of HIV 4 years after stem cell transplant
perigon
Last updated: April 16, 2026
A 63-year-old Norwegian man is in remission from HIV four years after a stem cell transplant. This marks him as one of a very small group globally to achieve such a recovery.
- The patient, who had been living with HIV for over 30 years, received a stem cell transplant from his brother to treat a form of cancer.
- This transplant involved a CCR5-delta 32 mutation, which is a rare genetic variation that makes individuals resistant to HIV infection.
- Before the transplant, the man was on a standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen for HIV.
- Following the transplant, he underwent a carefully monitored tapering off of his ART.
- Four years post-transplant, extensive testing has consistently shown no detectable levels of HIV in his body.
- This case is significant as it adds to the limited number of individuals worldwide who have achieved long-term remission or a functional cure for HIV through stem cell transplantation.
- The success of this procedure highlights the potential therapeutic avenue of stem cell transplants for HIV, particularly when combined with specific genetic resistance factors in the donor.
- Further research and monitoring are ongoing to understand the long-term implications and broader applicability of this treatment approach.
