Archive · 10 Dec 2025
Seventh Person Cured of HIV Through Stem Cell Transplant
A person in Berlin was cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant, even though the donor did not have a special genetic mutation that usually makes this treatment work.
This is the seventh person to be cured of HIV this way.
The treatment is very risky and can only be used for people who also have a fatal disease like cancer.
Normally, people with HIV take medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART) to stay healthy.
Scientists are excited because this new case shows that more people might be able to be cured of HIV in the future, even without the special genetic mutation.
The person who was cured is now healthy and does not need to take any HIV medicines.
A seventh person has been cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant in Berlin.
This is the second person cured without the HIV-resistant CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation.
The treatment is only suitable for people with fatal diseases like cancer due to its high risk.
The person has been HIV-free for seven years after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Scientists believe this case could expand the pool of potential stem cell donors for HIV cures.
- Who
- A person with HIV and a fatal disease, likely cancer
- What
- Cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant without the CCR5-delta 32 mutation
- When
- The transplant was performed in 2015, and the person has been HIV-free for seven years
- Where
- Berlin, Germany
- Why
- The stem cell transplant destroyed the person's immune system and replaced it with donor cells that were resistant to HIV
- Number of Cures
- 7
- Treatment Method
- Stem cell transplant
- Special Genetic Mutation
- CCR5-delta 32
- Mutation Prevalence
- 1% in Northern European population
- Treatment Risk
- 10-20% mortality rate
- Current Treatment for HIV
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
- Recent Case Details
- Cured without HIV-resistant genetic mutation
- Time Since Transplant
- 7 years