Skip to main content

First Person To Be Cured Of HIV Dies Of Cancer

The First person to be cured of HIV, Timothy Ray Brown – known as the ‘Berlin Patient‘ – has died after a battle with cancer.

International Aids Society (IAS) made the announcement earlier today Wednesday, September 30th, 2020.

The 54-year-old made medical history and became a symbol of hope for the tens of millions of people living with the virus that causes AIDS when he was cured more than a decade ago.

He had been living with a recurrence of leukaemia for several months and received hospice care at his home in Palm Springs, California.

IAS President, Adeeba Kamarulzaman said:
ON BEHALF OF ALL ITS MEMBERS… THE IAS SENDS ITS CONDOLENCES TO TIMOTHY´S PARTNER, TIM, AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE OWE TIMOTHY AND HIS DOCTOR, GERO HUTTER, A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE FOR OPENING THE DOOR FOR SCIENTISTS TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT THAT A CURE FOR HIV IS POSSIBLE.
Brown was diagnosed with HIV while was studying in Berlin in 1995. A decade later, he was diagnosed with leukaemia, a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

To treat his leukaemia, his doctor at the Free University of Berlin used a stem cell transplant from a donor who had a rare genetic mutation that gave him natural resistance to HIV, hoping it may wipe out both diseases.

It took two painful and dangerous procedures, but it was a success: in 2008, Brown was declared free of the two ailments, and was initially dubbed “the Berlin Patient” at a medical conference to preserve his anonymity.
Two years after his successful treatment, he decided to break his silence and went on to become a public figure, giving speeches and interviews and starting his own foundation.

Speaking with AFP in 2012, Brown said;

I AM LIVING PROOF THAT THERE COULD BE A CURE FOR AIDS. IT’S VERY WONDERFUL, BEING CURED OF HIV.

However, while Brown remained clear of HIV for more than a decade after being treated, he had suffered a relapse of leukaemia in the past year.

Ten years after Brown was cured of HIV, a second sufferer — dubbed “the London Patient” — was revealed to be in remission 19 months after undergoing a similar procedure.

The patient, Adam Castillejo, is currently HIV-free. In August, a California woman was reported to have no traces of HIV despite not using anti-retroviral treatment.
It is thought she may be the first person to be cured of HIV without undergoing the risky bone marrow treatment.

Sharon Lewin, president-elect of the IAS and director of the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia, praised Brown as a “champion and advocate” of a cure for HIV.

She said;

IT IS THE HOPE OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY THAT ONE DAY WE CAN HONOUR HIS LEGACY WITH A SAFE, COST-EFFECTIVE AND WIDELY ACCESSIBLE STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE HIV REMISSION AND CURS USING GENE EDITION OR TECHNIQUES THAT BOOST IMMUNE CONTROL.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vulvar Care Tips

Vulva Care Maintaining a healthy vulva and vagina will help prevent infections and discomfort. Unusual changes in vaginal discharge is a sign that there might be an issue. Why is vulvar and vagina care important? Many women experience uncomfortable, vaginal infections (vaginitis) at one time or another. The area around the entrance to the vagina (vulva) can also become irritated. Steps can be taken to relieve and prevent vulvar discomfort and vaginal infections. Not all vaginal infections are alike and home treatments can worsen some types. If you have any concerns about your vulvar or vaginal health, or notice unusual changes in vaginal discharge, contact your healthcare provider if the problem persists. What is the vulva? The vulva is the area of female sex organs that lies outside of the vagina. These organs include folds of sensitive tissue called the labia (labia means "lips"). The labia has two parts. The outermost folds are called the labia majora. A secon...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chechnya leader makes Mo Salah honorary citizen

Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov has made Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah an honorary citizen of the southern Russian region at a farewell banquet held for the eliminated World Cup side. Rights groups and Western governments allege that authorities in Chechnya repress their political opponents, discriminate against women and persecute sexual minorities, all allegations that Chechnya’s leaders deny. Chechnya has been hosting the Egyptian team’s World Cup training camp and Kremlin-backed Kadyrov has seized on opportunities to appear alongside Salah. Sarah’s goalscoring exploits for Liverpool and Egypt have made him an international superstar. “Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic. “Yes, that’s right! Tonight I signed a decree conferring this high award on the great footballer and member of the Egypt and Liverpool teams,” Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. Salah was presented with a badge and a copy of the decree at the dinner, Kadyrov said. The Egy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Oil prices rise amidst uncertainty over Libyan crude exports

Oil prices rose, Tuesday on uncertainty over Libyan oil exports, although plans by producer cartel OPEC to raise output loom. Brent sweet crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at 74.95 dollars per barrel at 01.04 GMT, up 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent from their last close. The United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at 68.33 dollars a barrel, up 25 cents, or 0.4 per cent. Traders said prices were mostly driven higher by uncertainty around oil exports by Libya, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Eastern Libyan commander, Khalifa Haftar’s forces have handed control of oil ports to a separate National Oil Corporation (NOC) based in the East of the country. The official state-owned oil company based in the capital Tripoli, also called NOC, will not be allowed to handle that oil anymore, he said. In comments later confirmed to the media, Ahmed Mismari, spokesman of Haftar’s Libya National Army...
Post a Comment
Read more