Berlin 2: German man's HIV remission changes what we thought was possible

Technology Dec 02, 2025

A German man known as Berlin 2 has stayed HIV-free for six years after a stem cell transplant for leukemia.
What's wild is his donor only had one copy of a gene mutation (CCR5 D32) once thought essential for beating HIV—challenging old assumptions.
Since stopping HIV meds in 2018, he hasn't shown any signs of the virus coming back.

Why this matters for the future

Berlin 2's story suggests more people could benefit from similar treatments, even if their donors don't have that rare double gene mutation.
It also pushes scientists to look into safer options, like targeted drugs or gene editing, so someday beating HIV might not require risky transplants at all.