Norway Man ‘Likely Cured’ of HIV After Stem Cell Transplant From Brother

A man in Norway was “functionally cured” of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from his brother. PER Images/Stocksy. A man in Norway has achieved long-term HIV remission after a stem cell transplant, adding to a small but growing group of similar cases. Researchers say rare genetic factors, immune responses, and medication appear to work together to eliminate hidden HIV reservoirs. While not a practical cure for most people, these cases are helping scientists better understand the complexities of how to achieve HIV remission. An adult man in Norway has been functionally cured of HIV following a stem cell transplant. He joins a small number of patients worldwide who have achieved similar outcomes. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that weakens the immune system and, if left untreated, can progress to stage 3 HIV or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Advancements in prevention and treatment, including PrEP and antiretroviral therapy (ART), have drastically improved outcomes and reduced the risk of HIV transmission. Despite these advancements, a cure for HIV has remained elusive. But, in some rare cases, patients have been documented as being functionally cured of HIV following stem cell transplants such as an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to treat certain cancers or other hematologic disorders unrelated to HIV infection. In these cases, “functional cure” refers to long-term HIV remission without the need for ongoing treatment. Only a small number of patients have achieved remission in this manner, but a new report adds to that growing body of evidence. The “Oslo patient,” as he is known in the report, is a 63-year-old man who is documented as being functionally cured five years after undergoing HSCT to treat myelodysplastic syndrome. Researchers affirmed his remission status by testing blood, gut, and bone marrow samples, all of which revealed no detectable viral reservoirs. The case, which i