The patient, referred to as the “Oslo patient,” underwent the high-risk procedure as part of treatment for Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal condition he was diagnosed with in 2017. He had been living with HIV since 2006.
A rare genetic advantage
The success of the transplant hinged on a rare genetic mutation affecting the CCR5 gene, which prevents HIV from entering immune cells. This mutation is found in only about 1% of people in northern Europe.
In a remarkable twist, doctors discovered on the day of the 2020 transplant that the patient’s brother—who served as the donor—carried this mutation.
According to Anders Eivind Myhre of Oslo University Hospital, the discovery came as a complete surprise. The patient himself described the outcome as “like winning the lottery twice.”
No trace of the virus
Two years after the transplant, the patient discontinued antiretroviral therapy, which had previously kept the virus under control. Subsequent testing revealed no detectable HIV in his blood, bone marrow, or gut.
“For all practical purposes, we are quite certain that he is cured,” Myhre said, noting that the findings were documented in research published in Nature Microbiology.
Today, the patient is reportedly in excellent health, with significantly improved energy levels and quality of life.
A rare but important case
The Oslo patient is among roughly 10 individuals worldwide to achieve long-term HIV remission following stem cell transplants. However, such procedures are typically reserved for patients with both HIV and life-threatening cancers due to their high risk.
This case is particularly notable because it marks the first time a patient has received a transplant from a family member and achieved remission.
Study co-author Marius Troseid of the University of Oslo explained that the patient’s immune system was completely replaced by the donor’s—something observed in both bone marrow and gut tissue for the first time in a cured patient.
Building on past breakthroughs
The case builds on earlier milestones, including the first documented cure of HIV in Timothy Ray Brown in 2008. Since then, a handful of similar cases have been reported in cities such as London, New York, and Düsseldorf.
More recently, researchers noted that another patient—sometimes called the “next Berlin patient”—achieved remission even without inheriting two copies of the CCR5 mutation, raising new questions about possible pathways to a cure.
Looking ahead
While stem cell transplants are not a practical solution for the millions of people living with HIV globally, scientists believe these rare cases are invaluable. They offer critical insights into how the virus can be eradicated from the body.
For now, the “Oslo patient” represents both a medical milestone and a source of optimism. As Troseid suggested, the label may no longer apply: he is, by all indications, no longer a patient.