Toronto HIV patient in remission

Medical researchers in Canada are celebrating a potential breakthrough in HIV treatment following the successful remission of a long-term patient.

The individual received a stem cell transplant to treat an underlying cancer, using a donor with the CCR5-delta 32 mutation which prevents HIV from entering cells.

While the procedure is highly risky and not suitable for most people living with HIV, it provides vital clues for future gene therapy research.

The patient has been off antiretroviral therapy for over six months with no detectable viral load.