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.
