German Researchers Say They've Cured HIV-Positive Man

Researchers for University Medicine Berlin say they have evidence of what could be the first person cured of the HIV virus. The researchers say a stem cell transplant has cleared any indication that the man – known as "Berlin Patient" – is still infected with HIV.

"We have previously reported the case of an HIV-infected patient in whom viral replication remained absent despite discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy after transplantation with … stem cells," according to an abstract in the publication "Blood." "However, it was expected that the long-lived viral reservoir would lead to HIV rebound and disease progression during the process of immune reconstitution."

The HIV rebound did not occur and the "results strongly suggest that cure of HIV has been achieved in this patient."