HIV: scientific research hits the headlines and the Institut Pasteur introduces a label to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the virus

On February 20, the Institut Pasteur published a press release about a new case of probable HIV cure, an announcement that generated great interest.

"HIV: third case in the world of probable cure after a bone marrow transplant"

Forty years after the discovery of HIV in 1983 at the Institut Pasteur, 38.4 million people were living with the virus worldwide in 2021. Only two cases of people being cured had previously been described: the Berlin patient in 2009 and the London patient in 2019. The IciStem consortium, whose members include Asier Sáez-Cirión's team at the Institut Pasteur, in collaboration with Düsseldorf University Hospital (Germany), the University of Hamburg (Germany), Utrecht University (Netherlands) and the IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute (Spain), now present a new case of probable HIV cure, following a bone marrow transplant from a donor with the genetic mutation CCR5-delta 32, known to provide natural protection against HIV. The man, treated in Düsseldorf, received a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia, then was able to stop his antiretroviral treatment for HIV under supervision. Four years later, no trace of HIV virus can be detected in his body. This study offers further proof that it is possible to cure HIV and raises new therapeutic prospects for scientists and clinicians who have devoted their efforts to fighting the virus for the past 40 years. The findings are published in Nature Medicine.

Read the full press release published on February 20

The press release generated much interest in the media (the print and online press, TV and radio). Here are some selected extracts from the many media reports:

 

France Info – A third case of HIV cure after a bone marrow transplant (in French)

Le Parisien – How a third patient worldwide overcame HIV (in French)

"The Swiss knives of the immune system": highly promising antibodies tested against HIV (in French)
 

France 5 – Health magazine show – at 2'14" – Asier Saez-Cirion invited as a guest on the show (in French)
RTL – Christophe d'Enfert, RTL GUEST – HIV: a third patient no longer has any trace of HIV in his body (in French)

France 3 Ile-de-France – "19/20" news bulletin on February 20 – top story (in French)
France 3 Ile-de-France: A third case of HIV cure: a "remarkable result" for the Institut Pasteur (in French)

 

 

• Institut Pasteur introduces a label to celebrate the discovery of HIV

A label and a graphic standard have been developed to mark the 40th anniversary of the identification of the HIV retrovirus. The label will be included on various communication materials and platforms that mention the anniversary to ensure complete clarity and coherence between this special graphic identity for the event and the Institut Pasteur's visual identity.

The label highlights the Institut Pasteur's ongoing commitment to tackling the virus with a series of visual and graphical elements illustrating research and the impact of HIV on society. These include a highly symbolic scientific image* and the widely recognized red ribbon, together with the number 40 to mark the anniversary.

* one of the very first photographs of the HIV-1 virus produced on February 4, 1983 and subsequently colorized.

 

Label: Institut Pasteur – photo by Charles Dauguet – One of the very first photos of HIV