International Collaboration to guide and investigate the potential for HIV cure by Stem Cell Transplantation

IciStem is a collaborative project to guide and investigate the potential for HIV cure in HIV-infected patients requiring allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematological disorders.

The IciStem consortium is composed of an expert European review panel of hematologists with experience in allogeneic SCT procedures along with infectious disease specialists, virologist and immunologists with expertise in the field of HIV-1 tropism, reservoirs and cure.

We prospectively study allogeneic SCT recipients with HIV-1 infection, collecting complete information on underlying malignancy, chemotherapy, transplant procedure, donor selection, HIV-tropism, cART, and virological and immunological characteristics of a variety of samples before and after the transplant.

Information for patients

IciStem investigates systematically the HIV reservoir in people living with HIV who either had or may get an allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Each patient registered at the IciStem program participates in a local study led by his/her treating physicians. IciStem advises systematic collection of clinical data and blood, tissue and CSF samples before and after the stem cell transplantation. Read more here.

Consortium statement on treatment interruption

Successful treatment of HIV is the suppression of the virus in the blood as measured through blood tests. While the virus is suppressed in the blood - registering undetectable in blood tests - the virus remains in infected cells in a dormant state (the ‘viral reservoir’). When treatment is interrupted the virus usually rebounds in the blood to detectable levels within 2–3 weeks from the release of infectious virus from the viral reservoir.

Treatment of HIV-patients has improved drastically over the past years, new developments are on the rise, and an HIV cure is gradually becoming a more realistic outcome. The only way to evaluate the effectiveness of a functional (virological control in the absence of antiretroviral therapy) or sterilizing (virus eradication) cure of HIV is to interrupt antiretroviral therapy (ART).

ART interruption must only be performed in a controlled clinical setting with monitoring over time of the viral rebound and the ability for scientifically evaluation.

Towards finding new strategies and a cure for HIV IciStem encourages and supports treatment interruption in a clinical setting with the consent of an HIV+ individual. IciStem strongly discourages treatment interruption in any uncontrolled setting.

In choosing to participate in HIV scientific research HIV+ individuals should understand the risks of a viral rebound from their viral reservoir, which may lead to acute retroviral syndrome, increased risk of HIV transmission, accelerated disease progression, and the possible development of drug resistance.

The IciStem consortium respects and appreciates the risks HIV+ individuals are willing to take in helping us scientifically pursue cure research. IciStem consortium members strongly advise patients who are willing to interrupt/stop their treatment to discuss this with their clinician prior to interruption, and to only do it under medical/clinical supervision. If you do this in the IciStem consortium we will provide advice on when and how to proceed based on our evaluation of cure research protocol and actively partner with you towards minimizing the risks to you during treatment interruption.

NEWS

Press releases

New York Times

Scientists have long tried to duplicate the procedure that led to the first HIV cure 13 years ago. Last year the so-called London Patient was introduced to the world as the second person to be in long-term remission after stem cell transplantation. Now one year later he is stepping out of the shadows to reveal his identity. Read the full article here.

Study supports claim HIV cure

Study supports claim for HIV cure in the second patient. No rebound of HIV in the London Patient who has stopped antiretroviral therapy after a successful stem cell transplantation to treat his hematological disease. Read the paper in The Lancet HIV here.

If you want to be kept updated on the IciStem project, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.

amfAR website

You can find recent articles about the IciStem project at the amfAR website. Please click here for the link.

Recent presentations

The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2020, Boston, Massachusetts, March 8–11, 2020
Presentation: Sustained HIV remission in the London Patient: the case for an HIV cure
Presenter: Ravindra Gupta

The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2020, Boston, Massachusetts, March 8–11, 2020

Presentation: CCR5Δ32 SCT-induced HIV remission: traces of HIV-DNA but fading immune reactivity

Presenter: Björn Jensen

European Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 27th Annual Congress, 22-25 October 2019, Barcelona, Spain

Presentation: The IciStem experience: learning from allogeneic stem cell transplantation to cure HIV

Presenter: Javier Martinez-Picado

Date: October 24, 2019

The IciStem project is supported by AmfAR Research Consortium on HIV eradication (ARCHE) Research Grant # 109858-64-RSRL