health

Man enters HIV remission after bone marrow transplant from CCR5Δ32 sibling

A man achieved functional cure of HIV after a bone marrow transplant from his brother, who has the CCR5Δ32 mutation; extensive testing found no virus in major reservoirs and the patient remains off antiretroviral therapy.

Apr 13th 2026 · Norway

Insights

  • A 63-year-old man stopped antiretroviral therapy and showed no detectable HIV after receiving bone marrow from his brother who carries two copies of CCR5Δ32.
  • Donor cells replaced the recipient's bone marrow and restored healthy T cell counts within a year.
  • Researchers found no detectable HIV in blood, bone marrow, or gut mucosal tissue, a key viral reservoir.
  • This is the first reported HIV remission following a transplant from a sibling donor with CCR5Δ32.
  • Bone marrow transplants carry serious risks and are only used when patients need transplantation for other medical reasons.
  • The result advances understanding of cure mechanisms but is not a broadly applicable HIV treatment at this time.