A California man, Paul Edmonds, is on the verge of being declared cured of HIV and blood cancer after receiving a rare stem cell treatment. He is one of only five people to beat both diseases and the oldest to do so.
Key Points
Paul Edmonds received a stem cell transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation associated with resistance to HIV.
He has shown no signs of AML or HIV since the transplant.
He stopped taking his HIV medication in March 2021 and has shown no detectable virus since then.
Pros
Paul Edmonds is on the cusp of being declared cured of both HIV and blood cancer.
The stem cell treatment he received has shown promising results in curing both diseases.
He is one of only five people worldwide to beat both diseases and the oldest person to do so.
Cons
The treatment involved intense chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, which can be challenging for patients.
The success rate of this treatment may vary for different individuals.
There is still ongoing research and development in the field of curing HIV.