A German man in his 60s is likely the seventh person to be cured of HIV following a bone marrow transplant, according to a study released ahead of the 25th International AIDS Conference. 

 

The man, who chose to remain anonymous, has been referred to as the "New Berlin Patient" in honor of the "Berlin Patient," Timothy Ray Brown, who was the first person declared cured of HIV in 2008 and passed away from cancer in 2020.

 

Diagnosed with HIV in 2009, the German patient underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2015 to treat leukemia. By the end of 2018, he was able to cease antiretroviral therapy. 

 

Researchers have found no detectable viral load in his body after approximately six years of monitoring.

 

Christian Gabler, the treating physician at Charité Hospital in Berlin, emphasized that this case strongly suggests the potential for an HIV cure. However, he noted that complete eradication of the virus cannot yet be fully confirmed.

 

Gabler also mentioned, "He is in good health and enthusiastic about contributing to our research efforts," according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

 

Sharon Lewin, President of the International AIDS Society, expressed optimism that the German patient's cure will be confirmed soon, given the stability of his health for over five years.

 

Unlike most previous patients who received stem cells from donors with a rare genetic mutation known as "CCR5," which prevents HIV from entering cells, the "New Berlin Patient" received stem cells from a donor with only one copy of this mutation. This more common genetic variation raises hopes for finding additional potential donors.

 

The "Geneva Patient," revealed in 2023, is another notable case, having received a transplant from a donor without the CCR5 mutation.