Globally, an estimated 39.9 million people live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is an infection which, over time, damages the immune system. This condition can be spread through sexual contact, contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy. By the time HIV becomes symptomatic, individuals may experience fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, oral thrush, shingles, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Eventually, the condition might progress to AIDS. While HIV/AIDS were once considered a death sentence, this is no longer the case. Antiretroviral drugs can reduce viral levels down to almost undetectable status.

Researchers have also been looking into potential curative options for HIV. In fact, multiple people have now been cured of HIV. The first was Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin Patient,” who was cured following a bone marrow transplant from an HIV-resistant individual. Now, shares Darren Incorvaia in Fierce Biotech, the seventh person in the world was cured in 2018. This individual’s story was shared at the 25th Annual AIDS Conference, which took place in July 2024.

The Push for HIV Cures

This patient, whose name is not yet known, was first diagnosed with HIV fifteen years ago. Over the next few years, the man developed a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Doctors determined that the man required a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). In the past, studies have shown that homozygous delta-32 CCR5 gene mutations cause someone to be naturally resistant to HIV. The gene mutations prevent HIV from binding to and infecting cells. Five out of the six previously cured individuals received HSCTs with homozygous mutations. The sixth individual received a HSCT with no delta-32 CCR5 cells at all. Researchers want to understand more about how this individual’s HIV was cured.

When searching for a transplant for this patient, doctors specifically pursued donors from individuals with this mutation. Their efforts were partially unsuccessful. Doctors failed to identify donors with homozygous mutations, but did find someone with a heterozygous delta-32 CCR5 mutation. The HSCT ended up curing both the man’s cancer and his HIV. He has remained illness-free for six years.