Two patients have achieved sustained HIV remission after receiving stem-cell transplants, officials said Monday [4].

These cases represent a critical step in understanding how to eliminate HIV from the human body. While antiretroviral therapy manages the virus, these instances of functional cure provide a blueprint for potential future treatments that do not require lifelong medication.

The news was shared July 27, 2026 [4], during the 26th International AIDS Conference [5] held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two new cases bring the worldwide total of documented HIV cure or remission cases to 13 [1].

Both patients underwent stem-cell transplants to treat underlying conditions, a process that in rare cases can lead to the eradication of the virus. Medical data shows that the patients have maintained an undetectable viral load while remaining off antiretroviral therapy for over a year.

One patient, identified as Patient A, has remained off the medication for 14 months [2]. A second patient, Patient B, has been off antiretrovirals for 12 months [3].

Researchers at the conference said how these outcomes correlate with previous cases of remission. The process involves replacing the patient's bone marrow with cells from a donor who possesses a specific genetic mutation that prevents HIV from entering cells, a rare biological trait that makes the procedure high-risk and currently unsuitable for the general population.

The announcement highlights the ongoing effort to move from viral suppression to a complete cure. Although the total number of cases remains small, each instance provides data on the stability of the remission, and the long-term viability of the stem-cell approach.

“The worldwide total of documented HIV cure or remission cases has reached 13.”

The increase in the global count of HIV remission cases confirms that the 'Berlin Patient' and 'London Patient' phenomena were not isolated anomalies. While stem-cell transplants are too dangerous to be used as a standard HIV treatment, these cases prove that a functional cure is biologically possible. The focus for researchers will now likely shift toward replicating this genetic resistance through gene editing or other less invasive therapies.