Author: Michelle Valderama

In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag hosts Dr Ravindra Gupta. Dr Gupta is the infectious diseases expert who led the team that treated Adam Castillejo, also known as ‘The London Patient,’ the second person known to have been cured of HIV. The discussion, recorded on March 3, 2024, at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), focused on the intricate process of finding a suitable stem cell donor, the immunologic and virologic considerations around the transplant process, and the collaborative medical team effort involved.

In this episode of Going anti-Viral, host Dr Michael Saag interviews Adam Castillejo, known as the London patient, who is the second person to have been cured of HIV infection. The discussion, recorded on March 3, 2024, at The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), touches on Adam’s initial HIV diagnosis in London during the early 2000s, the societal stigma and personal impact of the diagnosis, and his dual battle with HIV and cancer. Adam shares the complex journey of his treatment, including the failure of initial interventions and the ultimate success of a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a CCR5 delta 32 mutation, leading to his cure of HIV and cancer. The conversation delves into the technical aspects of bone marrow transplant, the emotional and physical challenges Adam faced during recovery, and the continued stigma he experiences even post-cure. The episode reflects on the broader implications of Adam’s story for HIV research and societal perceptions of the disease.

In this episode, Dr Michael Saag and Dr Adia Rana discuss a breakthrough study on using a long-acting injectable HIV treatment with conditional economic incentives for individuals who were unable to take oral therapy. Presented at CROI 2024, the study’s positive outcomes offer an effective option for certain individuals with no other options for continuing oral antiretroviral therapy