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1994-11-09
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AIDS Daily Summary
November 9, 1994
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS
Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public
service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement
by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction
of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC
Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information.
Copyright 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD
************************************************************
"Seeking a Better Test of HIV Patients' Health"
"Lifeline: Eye Oil"
"Survey Faulty on HIV and AIDS Threat"
"Sociologist Was a Leader in Battle Against AIDS"
"AIDS Summit Accord to Back Condoms, Clean Syringes"
"Coonan Clinical Laboratories Inc. Announces FDA 510 (K) Approval
of Blood Sampling Device to Be Used in HIV Home Collection Kit"
"Isis CEO Describes Major Advances in Antisense Technology at
Annual Meeting of AAPS in San Diego"
"Spanish Chastity Clubs Emerge as Foil to AIDS"
"An AIDS-Like Condition Induced in Baboons by HIV-2"
"Advancing New Therapies"
************************************************************
"Seeking a Better Test of HIV Patients' Health"
Investor's Business Daily (11/08/94) P. A6; Lau, Gloria
Oxigene Inc. announced Monday that it had completed the
first-stage analysis of its blood test that measures the health
of HIV patients' immune systems. The colormetric test measures
the ability of a person's DNA to repair itself. The strength of
the immune system is indicated by the color of the paper marker.
Oxigene's test is unusual because it tests the immune system,
where diseases can be identified earlier.
"Lifeline: Eye Oil"
USA Today (11/08/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene
The FDA approved Adatomed Silicone Oil for detached retina on
Monday. According to the agency, Adatomed treated 60 percent to
70 percent of patients in U.S. and European trials. It was
deemed the most effective treatment for retinal detachments
caused by cytomegalovirus retinitis, a condition common among
AIDS patients.
"Survey Faulty on HIV and AIDS Threat"
Chicago Tribune (11/08/94) P. 1-12; Freeman, William J.
Research presented in the recent "Sex in America: A Definitive
Survey" helped reinforce many myths and misinformation about HIV
and AIDS, writes William J. Freeman, executive director of the
National Association of People with AIDS, in a letter to the
editor. The number of HIV-infected Americans, for example, is
suggested to be less than the widely cited figure of one million.
Freeman, however, points out that a recent report from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that
at least 1 million Americans are infected. Many researchers
believe this figure to be conservative based on HIV testing each
year. The survey also stated "we are convinced that there is not
and very unlikely ever will be a heterosexual AIDS epidemic in
this country." In March 1994, the CDC reported that--for the
first time--homosexual intercourse was not the leading cause of
transmission. As early as 1992, Freeman notes, the fastest
growing category was heterosexual transmission of HIV. A total
of 9 percent of AIDS cases reported to the CDC are due to
heterosexual contact. Although progress has been made with HIV,
Freeman says there is still much more to do in terms of
education, prevention, and finding a cure. "Misinformation from
surveys like this push us two steps back for each one we make,"
he says.
"Sociologist Was a Leader in Battle Against AIDS"
Toronto Globe and Mail (11/08/94) P. A21
Political and AIDS activist, sociologist, and educator George
Smith died Sunday from complications from AIDS at the age of 59.
During the late 1980s, Smith helped found AIDS Action Now! and
the Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange. He was also a
member of various AIDS advisory committees and helped organize
the AIDS Treatment Information Service, which will begin
operating next year. Smith is survived by his partner, his
mother, and a brother.
"AIDS Summit Accord to Back Condoms, Clean Syringes"
Reuters (11/08/94); Arieff, Irwin
Organizers said Tuesday they anticipate that the Paris AIDS
summit in December will produce a 42-country agreement advocating
condom use and sterile syringe distribution. Dr. Bernard Debre,
summit coordinator, described the accord to be signed on Dec. 1
as "an extremely strong document." A draft of the final summit
accord has been agreed to in advance by representatives from each
participating country. The organizers noted how this will be the
first summit to concentrate on political leaders instead of
researchers, health care workers, and patients. "AIDS will
either be conquered everywhere or nowhere at all," they said.
"Coonan Clinical Laboratories Inc. Announces FDA 510 (K) Approval
of Blood Sampling Device to Be Used in HIV Home Collection Kit"
PR Newswire (11/08/94)
The Food and Drug Administration has given 510 (k) marketing
approval to Coonan Clinical Laboratories' (CCL) blood sampling
device. The disposable device is intended for use in CCL's home
collection kit for testing for HIV antibodies. With the approval
of the device, CCL can now submit its final PMA application for
the whole home collection kit.
"Isis CEO Describes Major Advances in Antisense Technology at
Annual Meeting of AAPS in San Diego"
PR Newswire (11/08/94)
At the annual meeting of the American Association of
Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Stanley T. Crooke, Chairman and
CEO of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., outlined data showing that
antisense drugs are therapeutically active in many animal models
of disease and in human clinical trials. Results from a Phase
I/II clinical trial in which AIDS patients with
cytomegalovirus-induced retinitis received ISIS 2922 demonstrated
that the drug halted retinitis progression in many of the
participants. Crooke also announced that Isis will begin Phase I
human clinical trials for ISIS 2302, an antisense oligonucleotide
that inhibits the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1
(ICAM-1).
"Spanish Chastity Clubs Emerge as Foil to AIDS"
Reuters (11/08/94); Chonghaile, Clar Ni
Both Mother Teresa of Calcutta and President Clinton have been
suggested as honorary members of Spain's new chastity clubs. "We
do not discriminate against anyone for their past, present or
future. We just want people who will defend our ideals,"
explained Marcos Gutierrez, founder of the first club in Granada
in August. The chastity clubs preach purity as a way to prevent
AIDS and unwanted teen pregnancies. Members of the club must
promise to be celibate until marriage and then in marriage to
remain faithful. While Spain has one of the highest rates of
contraceptive use in Europe, it also has the highest number of
new AIDS cases and a large number of teen pregnancies.
"An AIDS-Like Condition Induced in Baboons by HIV-2"
Science (10/28/94) Vol. 266, No. 5185, P. 642; Barnett, Susan;
Murthy, Krishna K.; Herndier, Brian G. et al
A study was conducted in which six baboons were injected with the
UC2 strain of HIV-2. Each of the baboons seroconverted within
six weeks and five became persistently infected. Within 18 to 24
months after injection, three had CD4+ T cell loss. At necropsy,
one baboon showed extensive circulation of the virus with
follicular depletion in the lymph nodes, widespread fibromatosis
involving lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, and lymphotic
interstitial pneumonitis. Other baboons were injected with UC14
strain of HIV-2 and all have demonstrated persistent infection.
The results show that persistent infection can be acheived and
that some animals demonstrate AIDS-like symptoms. The baboons
provide a useful animal model for studying HIV and for evaluating
potential antiviral therapies.
"Advancing New Therapies"
American Medical News (10/17/94) Vol. 37, No. 39, P. 14
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
has implemented a four-year program to speed up development of
HIV therapies. Under the program, six teams of researchers
received $6.2 million for the first year. They will direct their
efforts at gene therapy, immune-system restoration, and
therapeutic vaccines based on DNA. Clinical trials are due to
begin no later than the third year. Anthony S. Fauci, director
of NIAID, said, "This effort is crucial because currently
available anti-HIV drugs only partially and temporarily suppress
replication of the virus, and their use is hampered by toxicity
and drug resistance."