CANDY MIKE AND TODD

New patients cured of HIV as fight against AIDS continues

Mar 10, 2019, 12:34 AM | Updated: Mar 12, 2019, 2:29 pm

(Fred Hutch)...

(Fred Hutch)

(Fred Hutch)

It was announced last week that a man from London and another man from Düsseldorf appear to the second and third people to be cured of HIV, which inadvertently occurred after a bone marrow transplant designed to treat the patients’ cancer.

The first was 12 years ago with Timothy Ray Brown, a Seattle man who’s been free of HIV since 2007. KIRO Radio’s Mike Lewis spoke with Fred Hutchinson HIV researcher Dr. Josh Schiffer, who discussed his reaction to hearing the news and what this breakthrough means in the fight against HIV.

“This is a very encouraging piece of news, it’s an encouraging step. The barrier to curing HIV is a population of infected cells, which despite people being on anti-viral therapy — persists for their entire life,” said Dr. Schiffer.

RELATED: Trials for ‘next-generation’ HIV vaccine begin at Fred Hutchinson

“We’ve been trying for many many years to try to figure out how to eradicate those cells or silence the virus within those cells.”

Dr. Schiffer says that what these findings do is show researchers some of the mechanisms that make such cells persists, as well as how they might be targeted.

“The reason we know that this appears to be effective is that these people are no longer taking their anti-retroviral agents — which stops the virus from replicating — but nevertheless using very sensitive approaches, the virus cannot be detected in their body at present.”

RELATED: 8 cases of HIV identified among homeless drug users

While the discovery appears to present a pathway to eventually curing HIV, we’re still a ways away, and this latest announcement is by no means a definitive cure.

“The reason that this needs to be taken with some caution and perspective is that the unifying feature of these three people is that they all had cancer, and they all had life-threatening forms of blood cancer, and as a result needed to undergo a stem cell transplant in order to survive,” said Dr. Schiffer.

“It’s a very risky procedure, it’s a very expensive procedure, and it’s not a procedure we would give to somebody with chronic HIV which was been well treated and is otherwise healthy,” he said. “The encouragement here is that it teaches us so much about why the virus is persisting, but it’s not a procedure that would be available to healthy person who has HIV.”

Candy Mike and Todd

guns, assault weapons, gun, 1639, 1639 gun initiative, gun tax...

Mike Lewis

Mike: We should not restrict guns but their owners are different story

If you are a commercial pilot or general contractor likely you understand the value of licensing; So why not license gun owners?

4 years ago

snow day...

MyNorthwest Staff

What’s better for kids: a school snow day or a two-hour delay?

The recent snow fall stirred up a debate: What's better for kids, a snow day or two-hour delay?

4 years ago

shoveling snow...

MyNorthwest Staff

Candy: Everyone should shovel snow as a chore

Shoveling snow is a unique experience here in the Pacific Northwest. Here are five reasons everyone should shovel snow as a chore.

4 years ago

trans...

Todd Herman

The theft of parental rights in Washington state is unconscionable and immoral

Quoting a law passed in Democrat-controlled Washington state originally designed to make sure girls could get secret abortions, insurance companies have been writing to parents informing them they no longer have any rights to be involved in crucial, life-altering decisions their kids want to make.

4 years ago

tipping...

MyNorthwest Staff

Guilt tipping has got to stop

We are seeing tipping pop up in unusual places. I've seen new tip lines at a craft store, clothing store, and a 7-11 in the last few months.

4 years ago

Space Needle fireworks, New Year's Eve, seattle baby...

MyNorthwest Staff

Tell me I’m wrong: Everyone should have a New Year’s resolution

What is preventing us from reaching our fitness goals the rest of the year? KIRO Radio's Candy Harper weighs in.

4 years ago

New patients cured of HIV as fight against AIDS continues