A 60-year-old German man with HIV, nicknamed the “next Berlin patient,” appears to be cured after receiving a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. This is a significant development because:

It’s the 7th reported case of HIV cure globally, but the 1st where the donor lacked a specific genetic mutation previously thought essential. This broadens the potential donor pool for future treatments. The man’s remission lasted nearly 6 years after stopping HIV medication, which is highly suggestive of a cure. However, there are limitations:

The bone marrow transplant procedure is high-risk and not suitable for most HIV patients. Researchers aren’t 100% certain all traces of HIV are gone, but the patient feels well and is contributing to research. Overall, this case offers promise for a wider HIV cure in the future, potentially without requiring the specific genetic mutation in donors.