I don’t think they are even close to being human. Last I heard they were a dead end and the DNA pretty much proved it.
They are classified as a member of genus Homo, but as a separate species.
They were close enough to H. sapiens there is a possibility they were interfertile.
Humans and neanderthals inter-bred. The “caucasoid” population encompassing the region from Europe to northern India have elements of neanderthal genetics, AFAIK.
Lots of them still around at democrat underground!