By Our Correspondent

National News – A 63-year-old man in Oslo has been effectively cured of HIV after undergoing a rare stem cell transplant, doctors confirmed on Monday.

The patient, widely referred to as the “Oslo patient,” received the transplant in 2020 as treatment for a life-threatening blood cancer known as myelodysplastic syndrome.

The procedure involved using stem cells from his brother, who unexpectedly carried a rare genetic mutation that blocks HIV from infecting cells.

Medical experts revealed that the breakthrough occurred when the donor was found to have a mutation in the CCR5 gene, which prevents the virus from entering the body’s immune cells.

This discovery was accidental, as doctors initially struggled to find a matching donor.

According to researchers, the transplant replaced the patient’s immune system entirely, eliminating traces of the virus from his blood, gut, and bone marrow.

The patient, who had lived with HIV since 2006, stopped taking antiretroviral drugs two years after the transplant.

Since then, extensive testing has shown no detectable virus in his body.

Doctors described the outcome as comparable to “winning the lottery twice,” highlighting both the rarity of the mutation and the success of the procedure.

This case marks one of fewer than a dozen globally where HIV has gone into long-term remission following such treatment.

While the method is not a practical cure for millions living with HIV due to its high risk and complexity, scientists say it provides crucial insights into how a universal cure might be developed.

Researchers involved in the study believe that understanding how the CCR5 mutation works could lead to safer, more accessible treatments.

The patient has since regained strong health and energy, with doctors noting he may no longer be considered an HIV patient.