-----===[[[ A I D S w i r e D I G E S T 10.25.93 ]]]===----- Canada Clears 3TC, AIDS Drug in Trials, for Certain Patients * Wall Street Journal (10/25/93) P. C15 Canada's Health and Welfare department has approved the anti-AIDS drug 3TC for the treatment of patients unable to tolerate other authorized AIDS medicines. The ruling would allow some AIDS patients who do not qualify for participation in clinical trials of 3TC to use the experimental drug in a last-ditch effort. Canada has become the first country to allow the "compassionate-use" of 3TC. The drug, engineered to interfere with the replication of HIV, is undergoing testing in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In an agreement with BioChem Pharma Inc., Glaxo Holdings PLC is supporting the development process. Glaxo's Canadian division anticipates having final results within a year. Testing Rights for AIDS Drug Returned to Tanox * Journal of Commerce (10/25/93) P. 8A Ciba-Geigy Ltd. has given back to Tanox Biosystems all rights to develop a product for the treatment of AIDS patients. Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy had no experience with this type of product or with protective antibodies against the AIDS virus, and could not determine the probability of success from preliminary trials, according to David Anderson, executive vice president of Tanox. Also, Tanox wants more control over the process, he added. Although Ciba returned the rights, it is still working with Tanox to develop antibody-based products for allergy treatments and asthma. Tanox has been recommended by the National Institutes of Health's AIDS Clinical Drug Development Committee for government-supported clinical trials of AIDS-439. The government's AIDS Clinical Trial Group would conduct Phase I tests of AIDS-439 on infants at risk of contracting the virus. Tanox's product has finished preclinical Phase I tests in 12 infected adults, which demonstrated that the product had no adverse side effects. The AIDS development committee also recommended that Tanox experiment with AIDS-519, another AIDS-antibody product. U.S. Company to Test Gene Therapy for AIDS * Reuters (10/22/93) Seattle--Targeted Genetics Corp. has begun a trial of a new AIDS treatment using genetically modified white blood cells that recognize and attack cells with the AIDS virus. The Phase I tests will determine the safety of the experimental treatment on 15 patients with HIV. Targeted Genetics will work with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the study. During the tests, scientists will extract blood from patients, and white cells that have developed the ability to fight cells infected with HIV will be prompted to grow and multiply in cell cultures. Following this procedure, the scientists will insert a genetically altered virus, known as HyTK, which will place two genes into the cells. One gene, known as a marker gene, will permit scientists to determine which cells have the double gene. The second gene, known as a suicide gene, will force the cells to produce an enzyme found in a herpes virus, causing HIV-infected cells to become vulnerable to drugs that kill herpes viruses. If the altered cells begin to harm patients, the scientists can use the second gene to stop the process. Too Few Doctors Treating AIDS, Physician Warns * Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/22/93) P. A20 MacLeod, Rober Dr. Philip Berger, one of Toronto's leading AIDS doctors, says there is a paucity of physicians in the city willing to treat patients afflicted with AIDS. He says "Outright bigotry, homophobia, and prejudice against intravenous drug users" are the reasons for the decline, and he adds that the work load for doctors willing to administer care to those with AIDS has reached enormous proportions. Dr. Berger says he has seen 16 family doctors or primary care physicians discontinue their AIDS services in the past six years. "There is a fear [among doctors] of being publicly identified as an AIDS doctor," Berger said, citing a study that showed patients are apt to leave a doctor if they know he treats AIDS. He went on say that of Toronto's thousands of medical doctors, only 38 currently treat AIDS patients. Berger's revelation comes on the heels of a report given to the Toronto Board of Health that fingers AIDS as the leading cause of death among Toronto's male community aged 25 to 44. Estimates show that 14,000 people in Ontario have the virus that leads to AIDS. AIDS: 'A Whole Shift in Attitude' * Baltimore Sun (10/23/93) P. 1B Selby, Holly In the four months since being appointed the United States' first national AIDS policy coordinator, Kristine M. Gebbie has been successful in eliciting cooperation from all sides. Gebbie's post was created by President Clinton to fulfill a campaign promise. While the job carries much weight and exposure, it wields very little power. Gebbie, however, points out, "My job represents a whole shift in attitude in Washington." Gebbie is chiefly responsible for coordinating the policies of all federal agencies that have anything to do with the deadly disease. Among her top priorities are coordinating AIDS research so that duplicated efforts are eliminated, supporting needle exchange efforts, placing more emphasis on behavioral science, and pushing Congress to continue funding the Ryan White Act. Gebbie also endorses the policy of reporting by name those people with AIDS or HIV. One of her first actions was to announce that all 3 million federal workers would receive AIDS prevention education starting sometime in 1994. Most AIDS activists, though, are reserving judgment on Gebbie's performance until the real battles on Capitol Hill start up. Deep Thinking From the AIDS Czarina * Washington Times (10/25/93) P. A20 Before a group of health care specialists on the White House lawn last Wednesday, AIDS czar Kristine Gebbie denounced the United States' persisting Victorian attitudes about sex and called for society to loosen up. "Victorian society that misrepresents information, denies sexuality early, denies homosexuality particularly in teens, and leaves people abandoned with no place to go" cannot be tolerated, said Gebbie. After her remarks hit the press, the White House retracted Gebbie's statement on her behalf. Instead, the former nursing educator meant to say, "Abstinence is the surest prevention of HIV transmission and must be communicated as part of the complete prevention message." However, the editors of the Washington Times write that the White House's statement was "neither what Ms. Gebbie said, nor what she thinks." Recalling a statement Gebbie made at the Oct. 3 annual meeting of the Design Industries Foundation, the editors note that the AIDS czar believes that teaching abstinence is "criminal" because "it spreads fear and leads to adults who see nothing positive about their sexuality." Regardless, the editors find Gebbie's assessment of American society as Victorian to be ludicrous. "Anyone who can find Victorian repression prevailing in a culture that has given us Madonna, Sharon Stone, and Robert Mapplethorpe has to have a screw [loose,]" the editors conclude. Ampligen Proves Effective Against Resistant HIV * Journal of Commerce (10/21/93) P. 8A The experimental drug Ampligen has proven effective against AZT-resistant strains of HIV, according to HEM Pharmaceuticals Corp. of Philadelphia. Ampligen is a double-stranded RNA compound developed by HEM. According to the company's research summary, AZT and other current AIDS treatments attack HIV at only a single point in the reproductive process, allowing the virus to easily mutate to a resistant form. Immune-based drugs like Ampligen, however, wake up the body's dormant natural immune system and generate antiviral activity that attacks HIV at several points, making resistant mutations less frequent. One study described indicates that patients who have been taking AZT for at least six months and are treated with Ampligen before the onset of advanced disease, can not only maintain a higher number of CD4 immune cells, but also preserve the functionality of those cells. National Media Pitch 'A Penny for AIDS': Cable, Broadcast Television Join Celebrities, Video Stores to Boost Awareness for AIDS Fundraiser * PR Newswire (10/21/93) Los Angeles--Cable and broadcast television will air publicity announcements by celebrities soliciting support for "A Penny for AIDS," the national week-long fundraising effort of the Video Industry AIDS Action Committee (VIAAC). The campaign will donate one cent for each video tape or disc rented or purchased by customers, retailers, and all companies involved in the video industry from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1. So far, over 2,000 retailers have committed to the project. According to co-chair Harry Klingman, participation by just half of the nation's video stores could raise $1 million. "The campaign sets a precedent unlike many AIDS charity events," he said. "It's not a gala fundraiser that requires a large contribution of residence in a major city. It is truly a 'grass roots' movement." The PA spots feature the likes of Rosanna Arquette, Mario Van Peebles, Marky Mark, Richard Simmons, Robert Guillame, and more, and will be broadcast on outlets including Comedy Central, MTV, Playboy, USA, and Telemundo. VIACC was founded in 1989, and has raised no less than $500,000 for AIDS service organizations. "Dutch MP Urges Rethink on European Condom" Reuters (10/21/93) Amsterdam, Netherlands--A Dutch politician announced that she will urge the European Commission to rethink plans for a standard European condom. The commission calculates that the average erect European penis measures about 6.7 inches long and 2.2 inches wide. Nel van Dijk, a member of the Dutch Green Party of the European Parliament, is worried that the EC's two-year discussion on a standard prophylactic may not consider differences in penis size. She justified her concerns by producing evidence published in a medical journal last week that some men complained that one-size-fits-all condoms are too tight. The Dutch Green Party called it a serious issue because it impacts condom use, which in turn affects the spread of AIDS. Advanced KS: Liposomal Doxorubicin Trial Recruiting, Many Cities * AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 7 Liposomal doxorubicin (brand name DOXIL) is an experimental form of a standard doxorubicin drug used for treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma. DOXIL is being marketed quickly because it will also likely be an important improvement for the treatment of certain cancers. And because the lesions characterized by Kaposi's sarcoma are visible and easy to measure, they supply a fast means for proving efficacy. Two trials of DOXIL are currently recruiting. One trial will compare DOXIL to standard treatment ABV for advanced Kaposi's sarcoma by randomly assigning patients to receive each treatment. The trials will be conducted at about 30 research centers across the United States. The second trial will give open-label DOCIL only to those who have already failed ABV. BRF--Ethiopia-AIDS * Associated Press (10/19/93) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia--AIDS is spreading swiftly in Ethiopia, with hospitals reporting 335 new cases each month since July, reports a senior health official. Although hospitals say that there are 8,735 cases of AIDS in Ethiopia, the actual figure is about 43,000, claims Dr. Mengistu Mihret, head of the National AIDS Prevention and Control Office. As many as 500,000 Ethiopians are infected with the AIDS virus, he told participants at an AIDS prevention seminar Monday, adding that one-third of the infected population is married and about 62 percent are men. "The negligence by the public of the dangers of the virus" contributes to the spread of the disease, says Mengistu. Estimated 30,000 Swazis Have HIV Virus * Reuters (10/20/93) Mbabane--About 30,000 people in Swaziland are infected with HIV, according to Dr. J.J. Mambo of the National AIDS Control Office. There were 319 confirmed cases of people with full-blown AIDS by the end of September, he reported. Gov. Chiles Calls Statewide Business Conference on AIDS * PR Newswire (10/21/93) Lake Buena Vista, Fla.--Gov. Lawton Chiles challenged Florida business and labor leaders to join the battle against AIDS by creating education programs for the workplace that will help employees and their families better understand the disease. Chiles said the increasing spread of the virus worldwide "mandates that government and business work together to meet the challenge in our communities and our work force." He delivered his challenge at the Governor's Leadership Conference on AIDS, a statewide conference on workplace-based HIV/AIDS programs. It was sponsored in conjunction with "Business Responds to AIDS," a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With 33,000 total reported cases, Florida ranks third in the nation in AIDS cases. Eighty-five percent fall into the category of people aged 20 to 49, which is three of every four people in the state's labor force. "Swiss Ciba-Geigy Returns AIDS Drug's Testing Rights to Houston's Tanox * Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News (10/21/93) Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy Ltd. has returned to Tanox Biosystems all rights to develop a product for treatment of AIDS patients. Ciba had no experience with the product, protective antibodies against HIV, said Tanox Executive Vice President David Anderson, adding that the decision to transfer the rights was mutual. Tanox has, in the meantime, received recommendation from the Clinical Drug Development Committee of the National Institutes of Health to conduct government-sponsored Phase I clinical trials of its product AIDS-439. The committee also encouraged Tanox to conduct preclinical studies of a second AIDS antibody product, AIDS-519. October 26, 1993 HIV Infection Mechanism Discovered * Washington Post (10/26/93) P. A13 Researchers at France's Pasteur Institute claim to have discovered how the AIDS virus penetrates and infects blood cells, a finding which could have major implications in the development of a vaccine. The team said it found a "co-receptor" molecule called CD26, which was identified several years ago, but whose function remained a mystery. According to the researchers, CD26 is used by all strains of the virus as a gateway into blood cells. Although they have known for years that HIV adheres to surface receptor molecules known as CD4, scientists still did not know how the virus actually got inside the cells to contaminate them, said Ara Hovanessian, head of the Pasteur Institute team. "The presence and functioning of the CD26 molecule are indispensable for the infection and spread of the virus in the CD4 cells," said a statement from the Institute. "In viral infections, the CD4 serves as the contact point for viral particles, while CD26 serves as the main door." The existence of this second receptor molecule sheds light on possible strategies to develop a vaccine that will "lock out" HIV, said the researchers. "The AIDS virus has always managed to have the key to open the CD4 receptor lock," said Hovanessian. "We hope to be able to develop drugs capable of jamming the CD26 lock so that the AIDS key will no longer fit." Because every strain of the disease uses CD26 to infect cells, researchers hope to develop a universal vaccine. Related Story: New York Times (10/26) P. C1; Wall Street Journal (10/26) P. B18; Philadelphia Inquirer (10/26) P.A7; Washington Times (10/26) P. A3 8 Counties' AIDS Fight Gets Boost * Chicago Tribune (10/25/93) P. 1-3 Thomas, Jerry Until recent times, many residents and officials in the Chicago collar counties refused to acknowledge that HIV/AIDS was a major health concern in their areas, and those who had contracted the virus had to travel long distances and be treated in secrecy to receive primary care and medicine. As the number of persons infected has climbed in the collar counties, however, attitudes have changed as well. AIDS experts from across Illinois met at a seminar last week, where it was announced that eight northeastern counties would now be eligible for federal funding that has been available primarily to Chicago, which will now be obliged to share the money from the Ryan White Care Act. Between January 1981 and September 1993, there were 18,566 people infected with HIV in Cook County, compared to only 1,164 in the collar counties. The city and suburbs have different purposes outlined for the funding. While the city is already underfunded and overwhelmed with patients, the suburbs are trying to implement basic services, such as counseling and referral. Texas Health Officials Recall 3 Million Condoms * United Press International (10/25/93) Austin, Texas--State health officials in Texas yesterday recalled about 3 million condoms made in Thailand and distributed throughout the state by agency contractors. The condoms, which may be defective, were distributed under the brand names Fame, Bulldog, and Prestige, said David Smith, state health commissioner. "We're issuing this recall to protect consumers from a potentially ineffective and harmful product," said Smith. "Consumers should be reassured that other brands of condoms are safe and effective." State health officials learned that, although previous shipments by the same Thai manufacturer were found to be faulty and not allowed to be imported, the Food and Drug Administration did not sample the new shipment of condoms. Smith says the recall proves that "even the few defective condoms that escaped the federal system can be quickly discovered and removed from the market." He added that the department will replace the condoms and reimburse the state for all related costs. Good Nutrition May Delay Onset of AIDS * United Press International (10/25/93) San Francisco--Good nutrition, combined with a daily multivitamin, may stall the development of AIDS in a significant percentage of HIV-positive men, according to a study presented yesterday at a major health meeting. The large, long-term followup of some 300 San Francisco men infected with the virus indicated that multivitamin use seemed to protect nearly a third of them from the onset of full-blown AIDS over a six-year time frame. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, said that specific nutrients from food and supplements also appeared to be protective. While doctors need more studies to corroborate their findings, they advise infected persons, in the meantime, to eat food high in vitamins and minerals, and to take a daily multivitamin. CDC Study Finds Five Transfusion-Related AIDS Cases Per Year * United Press International (10/25/93) Miami Beach, Fla.--Since screening for HIV began in 1985, very few people have become infected with the virus via blood transfusions, according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of transfusion-related AIDS cases rose steadily from 1978 to 1984, then fell dramatically when testing began in 1985, said the CDC. Officials report that between 1986 and 1991, the number of such cases may have been as low as five per year. "While the risk of getting AIDS from a transfusion is not zero, this study corroborates other CDC research and published data indicating that the risk is extremely low," said Dr. Arthur J. Silvergleid, president of the American Association of Blood Banks. A total of 4,619 individuals are believed to have been infected through the blood supply. Each year in the United States, about 4 million people receive blood transfusions. Poll Finds Ignorance on HIV Test * United Press International (10/24/93) Tokyo--Only one in five Japanese adults know that tests cannot determine HIV status until at least three months have passed since having sex, according to a poll by the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies. The survey questioned 2,000 randomly selected individuals, and found that 41 percent of the respondents believe they should take an HIV test soon after having unprotected sex. Another 21 percent said that taking an HIV test two weeks after intercourse could produce precise diagnosis about infection. Lack of knowledge about the test could, however, falsely convince a person testing negative before the three-month waiting period has ended that he or she has not been infected, said a federation official. That faulty assumption, the official continued, could have "horrible" consequences for the individual's sex partners. Only 19 percent of respondents said that HIV tests conducted after three months following sex could produce accurate diagnoses. San Francisco: NAC Trial Recruiting * AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 7 Herzenberg Laboratory at Stanford University is now recruiting for participants in an eight-week trial of NAC (N-acetylcysteine). The goal of the study is to determine whether oral NAC can replenish glutathione levels in the T cells of HIV-infected persons. Low glutathione levels are often characteristic of HIV infection, and it is thought that these low levels may cause T cells to function less efficiently and cause faster HIV replication. Volunteers may not already be taking NAC, OTC, cysteine, or glutathione, and must meet other medical requirements. Is It OK to Lick It? * Advocate (10/19/93) No. 640, P. 7 Postmaster General Marvin Runyon says he "can't believe there would be any controversy" about it, yet activists appear to be dissatisfied with the new AIDS awareness postal stamp that is being prepared for its Dec. 1 debut. One objection is the stamp design itself. It features the global symbol of a folded red ribbon, while many activists preferred the no-AIDS symbol designed by a Wisconsin nurse. The primary complaint, however, is that Runyon and the postal service have declined to sell the stamp for more than its face value, so that proceeds might benefit the fight against AIDS. Alternative Treatment Library Available * AIDS Treatment News (10/01/93) No. 184, P. 6 The Jon Greenberg Library of Alternative Treatments for HIV Disease, an anthology of information on alternative AIDS therapies, is now available from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). Steven Korsia compiled the collection, working closely with Jon Greenberg, who died this summer, to gather data for the publication. In a preface, Korsia cautions readers that many of the proposed treatments presented are actually not advised at all, and that each individual must determine the validity of each therapy. Among the treatments described are blue-green algae, traditional oriental medicine, colloidal silver, garlic, licorice, shark cartilage, mistletoe, and polio vaccines. Copies of the publication are available free to nonprofit organizations, and at a cost of $30 to all others. Assessment of Laboratory Reporting to Supplement Active AIDS Surveillance--Colorado * Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (10/01/93) Vol. 42, No. 38, P. 749 The surveillance case definition for AIDS was expanded in January to include HIV-infected adolescents and adults with CD4 counts lower than 200, pulmonary tuberculosis, recurrent pneumonia, and invasive cervical cancer. In preparing for the implementation of these new criteria, the Colorado Department of Health (CDH) assessed the usefulness of lab reports of CD4 test results as a supplement to existing procedures for AIDS surveillance in that state. The CDH conducted tests in two Colorado labs that perform CD4 testing, and compared these tests with CDH records of people with the AIDS virus. The surveillance at these two labs identified a significant number of AIDS cases defined by the new case definition. At one lab, 23 percent of persons with CD4 test results had HIV or AIDS, but had not previously been reported by CDH; the figure was 6.5 percent at the other lab. Of 108 previously unreported cases of infection, 85 percent were identified through record reviews indicating an HIV diagnosis in medical records, but without a lab report of an HIV test. Without CD4 testing, these patients probably would have remained unreported until being hospitalized for an opportunistic infection, or until death. The findings suggest that AIDS case surveillance may be enhanced by lab reports of CD4 testing, with provider follow-up or medical record review. Active case identification is critical in ensuring timely and complete disease reporting. Zidovudine-Resistant Variants of HIV-1 in Brain * Lancet (Great Britain) (10/02/93) Vol. 342, No. 8875, P. 865 Stefano, Mariantonietta et al. Position changes of amino acids in the reverse-transcriptase (RT) of HIV have been associated with the development of zidovudine-resistant strains in the blood. Just hours after administration of zidovudine, the drug concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is half that found in plasma. It is uncertain if the resistant variants emerge in the brain as well. If they do, Stefano et al. thought it would be important to discover if resistance is defined by the same RT mutations found in blood isolates, especially since patients taking zidovudine clinically improve AIDS-related conditions of neurological and psychiatric natures. HIV was isolated from blood and CSF of four patients. Resistant strains developed both in the blood and in the brain compartment 12 to 29 months later. Stefano et al. concluded that drug-resistant HIV strains can be found in the brain compartment of patients taking zidovudine, and that the mutations linked to the resistance in CSF isolates are identical to those in blood isolates. Primary Infection With Zidovudine-Resistant HIV * New England Journal of Medicine (10/07/93) Vol. 329, No. 15, P. 1123 Hermans, P. et al. Hermans et al. challenge the conclusions of Erice et al., who described an HIV-positive patient with a primary infection that showed resistance to zidovudine. Erice et al. suggested that isolates that are resistant to nucleoside analog drugs are associated with a higher virulence or modified immune response. After their subsequent study of the isolates of five acute HIV patients with resistant strains, Hermans et al. clinically did not observe any longer duration or greater severity of symptoms in the subjects. Nor could they find any evidence to support the conclusions of Erice et al. Hermans et al. reported that the frequency of such primary zidovudine-resistant strains is still unknown, but that they are probably more frequent than previously thought. The researchers said that these findings have implications for clinical trial design. October 27, 1993 Gene Map of AIDS Key Will Help Research--Doctors * Reuters (10/27/93) da Silva, Wilson Sydney--Australian scientists say they have cloned and genetically mapped the CD26 co-receptor molecule that was identified only days ago by French researchers as the key that allows HIV to enter and infect human cells. Geoff McCaughan, associate professor of Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, says his research team conducted what they believe is the first complete mapping of CD26, and the Australian researchers say they will provide the map to AIDS scientists. The next step, they say, is to closely examine the genetic structure of CD26, in hopes of revealing a weakness that would provide insight into the development of a drug able to prevent the AIDS virus from invading healthy cells. If the molecule is indeed the key to HIV infection, French researchers at the Pasteur Institute suggest that the genetic map may allow them "to target these as a way of reducing the number of CD26 molecules expressed, thereby reducing the risk of HIV infection," says McCaughan. His research team had been studying the molecule's relationship with liver disease. After the French researchers' discovery, the Australians are trying to match differences in the genetic structure of CD26 with how the virus affects AIDS patients. McCaughan says variations might explain why some people develop the disease shortly after infection, some take years, and others seem to maintain immunity. Specialists Cast Doubt on New AIDS Findings * Reuters (10/26/93) Yanowitch, Lee Marne La Coquette, France--After French researchers at the Pasteur Institute claimed on Monday to have solved the mystery of how AIDS penetrates and infects human cells, the celebration of the discovery was overshadowed by the doubts cast by specialists, who said that findings would help understand the virus, but not necessarily lead to a vaccine. Ara Hovanessian, head of the Pasteur team, said the researchers had isolated a co-receptor molecule called CD26, which serves as a portal allowing the AIDS virus to invade the cell. Hovanessian presented the findings at a symposium of international AIDS experts, where many specialists expressed doubt about the use of the discovery in developing a vaccine. "Every discovery must be confirmed by someone else," said Marc Girard, head of vaccine research at the Institute. "As long as it is not confirmed, it is not valid." Although Girard conceded that perhaps one day a treatment might be developed that could block CD26 activity, it is still not know whether the molecule has an important or indispensable function to the human body. Another problem with Hovanessian's research is that there are cells that HIV may infect via receptors other than CD4 and CD26, said Pierre Fillipi, who studies AIDS-generated brain lesions. If this held true, CD26 would not be a viable target for prevention or treatment. If, however, later results confirm Hovanessian's current hypothesis, scientists could use genetic manipulation to place CD4 and CD26 receptors on laboratory mice, thus providing an animal model that AIDS researchers desperately need and have long awaited. New Hope Zoning Board Approves Residence for HIV-Infected People * Philadelphia Inquirer (10/27/93) P. B5 Schiavo, Christine Last night in the Philadelphia area, the New Hope Zoning Hearing Board approved the conversion of an old house in the tiny Pennsylvania borough into a home for eight HIV-positive residents. Four board members voted unanimously to deny an appeal by about 10 neighbors who wished to block the zoning permit, which was issued about two months ago to the Family Service Association (FSA) of Bucks County. The nonprofit counseling organization plans to buy the house and renovate it into a group home to be called Bucks Villa, where eight HIV-infected people who are dependent on Social Security can live independently. The issue divided the small community, and a small band of neighbors appealed on the grounds that the planned residence resembles a nursing home, which is not allowed on less than an acre of land. They also cited noise, traffic, and a decline in property values as the basis for their appeal. The FSA, however, contends that denying the permit would violate federal fair housing laws. The organization has received a grant of $900,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, some of which will be used to purchase and renovate the home, and the remainder of which will subsidize rents over the next 20 years. 34,000 Condoms Were Distributed in '92 at 7 City High Schools * Philadelphia Inquirer (10/27/93) P. B3 Hollman, Laurie Approximately 34,000 condoms were dispensed to high school students at seven public school "health resource centers" in Philadelphia last year, according to a report presented yesterday at a hearing by the Family Planning Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania. More than one-fourth of those enrolled at the seven schools--2,895 students--made 10,676 trips to the centers to receive counseling on a wide array of subjects, including AIDS. Students left the centers with condoms 63 percent of the time. More than two years ago, the Philadelphia Board of Education decided to permit condom distribution in schools as part of a comprehensive sex-education campaign that emphasizes abstinence. Students cannot receive condoms without first receiving counseling on responsible sexual behavior and condom use. The program was hotly debated from the start, and opposition still exists. There are also concerns about whether the centers are actually modifying teenage sexual behavior. At the four-and-a-half hour hearing, speakers made recommendations on how to make the program more effective. The hearing was sponsored by the City Council's Committee on Education, which seeks to ensure that the health centers are effective in preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents. Females Shouldn't Downplay AIDS Risk * St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/26/93) P. 2D Donohue, Paul AIDS is a predominantly male disease in both America and Canada, says Dr. Paul Donohue, but the demographics are shifting rapidly. Women now account for 11 to 12 percent of reported AIDS cases in the United States, a figure significant enough to consider the disease a real threat to the female gender. The male-female distribution of the virus is about 50-50 worldwide, cites Donohue. However, if the current trend in America continues, Donohue fears that ratio may soon apply to this country as well. And any woman who dismisses AIDS as only a male disease should re-evaluate her thinking, contends Donohue. Zimbabwe May Muzzle Witchdoctors AIDS Claims * Reuters (10/24/93) Harare--Because they are a threat to the government's campaign to curb the spread of AIDS, claims of traditional healers that they know a cure may be silenced by a government-ordered news blackout. Witch doctors are profiting from the epidemic sweeping Zimbabwe, so the government may invoke a law banning the promotion of cure claims, says Health Minister Timothy Stamps. The law prohibits promotion of "any medicine, appliance, or article for the alleviation or cure of any venereal disease or diseases affecting the generative organs or functions or any complaint arising from or relating to sexual intercourse." In the past few months, witch doctors have announced a cornucopia of herbal cures fro the deadly virus, but the government has dismissed them, saying that they need to be scientifically proven first. Of Zimbabwe's population of 10 million, some 800,000 people are infected with the AIDS virus. Study Shows AIDS Patients Need Change in Care System * United Press International (10/24/93) Wasowicz, Lidia San Francisco--Turf wars, limited resources, and narrow goals that characterize the current system often interfere with AIDS services, say scientists, who urge a more centralized approach to the disease. Studies in Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore, Md., demonstrated a lack of coordination among many small care providers, where many functions were duplicated and others were not available at all. In many communities, dozens of small, independent organizations provide a single service, such as meals or housing, to a targeted segment of the population, like blacks, women, hemophiliacs, or gays. Studies also indicate that, unlike larger, multi-service providers who are willing to pool resources and offer a greater range of services, small providers do little or no referrals and rarely share resources. "Little effort is put into coordinating service delivery with others," says Thomas Rundall, professor of public health at the University of California, Berkeley. "AIDS patients often have to find and coordinate services on their own or go without. They may not know what they really need, much less where to get it." AIDS Counseling * Associated Press (10/26/93) Davis, Amanda A retired financial planner infected with HIV spoke at a recent AIDS conference in Kansas City about how AIDS patients can manage the burden on their financial situations. "The most common mistake HIV-positive people make is not doing anything," declares John Darragh. Because only 6.1 percent of people with full-blown AIDS live more than five years, time is of the essence. Lifetime medical costs run about $100,000, but expensive treatments, hospital stays, and home care can raise that figure to as much as $1 million. Many sources provide protection to help defray these costs, says Darragh, listing government entitlements, job benefits, and health and life insurance as examples. But because health insurance does not generally cover travel expenses associated with treatment and drugs, it's crucial to have disposable income readily available. Darragh recommends that AIDS patients keep open lines of credit by paying bills on time, and by opening new credit card accounts. He also suggests that people with AIDS can tap into retirement money. "Many guys have 401k plans that you can't touch till you're over 65," explains Darragh. "But if there's a medical emergency, they can take the money out without penalty and put it in a fixed-income investment and take the income." While life insurance may seem pointless for someone not expected to live very long, some policies provide quick cash through viatical settlements--selling policies fro 50 to 70 percent of their face value--or accelerated benefits. Politics and AIDS Research * Washington Post (10/26/93) P. A16 The editors of the Washington Post offer some criticism of Congress for its slow response concerning clinical testing of the controversial AIDS vaccine gp160. About this time last year, they recall, Congress appropriated $20 million for the Department of Defense to conduct accelerated tests of the drug, although the usual preliminary work had not been completed or evaluated. Leaders in AIDS research, specifically the scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, had not requested authority for accelerated tests; in fact, they objected to the drug not only because they had not been consulted, but because they doubted that gp160 was any more promising than a host of similar drugs that had not warranted fast-track testing. Conceding to these objections, Congress mandated that if the NIH director, FDA commissioner, and secretary of defense all were against the tests, they wouldn't be conducted. They did all agree, as did the White House AIDS Office and some AIDS advocacy groups, say the editors. Despite this overwhelming rejection of accelerated testing of gp160, the Senate chose not to act. If rerouted, the $20 million would go to the general AIDS research budget of the Defense Department. Decisions on which drugs warrant testing and which are safe and effective should be made by scientists, not legislators and lobbyists, asserts the Post. The editors note that the experts concur on the issue of gp160, and contend that Congress should respect their recommendations. Good Medicine? * Advocate (10/19/93) No. 640, P. 16 President Clinton's proposed plan for health care reform has earned the praise of AIDS advocates. "There are three areas where the proposal looks good to us," said Daniel T. Bross, executive director of the AIDS Action Council, a lobbying group. "The prescription drug coverage looks like it will cover most AIDS drugs. In the area of civil rights protections and confidentiality, it looks good also. Finally, the federal benefits package allows for home health care, which is particularly important for people with AIDS." The plan would offer all Americans a basic menu of health care services; those not on the menu would be paid for out of the individual's own pocket. For this reason, according to Ruth Finkelstein, director of policy for the Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York, an AIDS service group, "there may be a lot of out-of-pocket expenses for people with AIDS because their medical needs are so much greater than the average person's." Bross cautions that, because the plan may not be passed until late next year, or not at all, its final draft may differ significantly from Clinton's proposal. "Congress is going to try to take it apart, and we have to focus on keeping the good parts of the plan intact," he said. The Taking of Free Condoms in a Drug Abuse Treatment Clinic: The Effects of Location and Posters * American Journal of Public Health (10/93) Vol. 83, No. 10, P. 1466 Amass, Leslie et al. Injecting drug use and unprotected sex are two of the primary behavioral risk factors contributing to the steady transmission of the AIDS virus. Condom use is the most powerful tool currently available to prevent transmission during sex. Amass et al. report that, while treatment can reduce drug use and needle sharing, drug abuse treatment programs can also help reduce high-risk sexual activity by drug addicts by promoting and providing condoms. A study was conducted by Amass et al. to determine the impact of distribution location and poster prompts for free condoms. For six months, condoms were available at a drug abuse treatment clinic alternately with and without poster prompts and in the clinic's private restroom or in the public waiting area. Results showed that, while poster prompts did not affect condom taking, 381 percent more condoms were taken from the restroom location than from the waiting room. More free condoms will be taken from a private rather than a public setting, concluded Amass et al, suggesting that distribution location is critical in promoting the taking of free condoms in a public clinic. Reducing the Cost of HIV Antibody Testing * Lancet (Great Britain) (10/02/93) Vol. 342, No. 8875, P. 866 Tamashiro, Hiko and Heymann, David Tamashiro and Heymann defend their suggestion that use of a second and third enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a simple-rapid test to confirm HIV infection is as sensitive and specific as western blot strategies. Their work was questioned by Simon and Brun-Vezinet, who were concerned that the proposed strategy was inadequate and debated whether the results of such tests should be disclosed to patients. The critics also suggested that seroconversion may be the cause of discrepant results of first and second tests, and that a p24 antigen test should be conducted in that case. The authors once again stress that the second and third tests should be similar to the first, thus reducing the probability of a false negative. While they agree that a p24 antigen test would be effective in determining results, Tamashiro and Heymann say that it may not be a viable option in resource-poor countries. They suggest a two-week wait and then another test from another blood sample to check for discrepant results. They also continue to support a serum-pooling strategy, which they believe is better that a strategy recommending individual testing in areas that lack supplies for HIV testing. October 28, 1993 Eat Out so That AIDS Victims Can Eat In * Baltimore Sun (10/28/93) P. 1E Corey, Mary On Thursday night, 40 or so Baltimore-area restaurants will take part in "Dining Out for Life," an event to raise money for an AIDS food service. Regi's, Gampy's, and Mick's are a few of the participating restaurants that will donate 20 percent of the money from dinner bills this evening to Moveable Feast, a meal delivery program for homebound AIDS patients. Last year, the first time it was held, the fundraiser collected $12,000, which enabled the organization to increase food delivery service from three to five times weekly. Moveable Feast is a five-member staff which feeds over 100 people each day in the Baltimore area. More than 15,000 meals were served in 1992 alone, and the organization is expanding next month to include Howard County, says event co-chair Bryan Stark. "It's such an easy way to help, especially if you're concerned about AIDS," he says. "You get to feel good about eating out that evening, and it doesn't cost you a thing." Some restaurants have opted to give even more than the 20 percent. The Mt. Vernon Stable & Saloon, for instance, will contribute 50 percent of its dinner sales, while the wait staff will donate half of its tips for the cause. MBTA Rejects New Condom Campaign * Boston Globe (10/27/93) P. 21 Kong, Dolores With the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) second rejection of paid condom ads in little more than a year, the state's largest AIDS organization has accused the system of censorship and will sue. The MBTA has declined to accept the ads for fear they may be offensive, but the Massachusetts AIDS Action Committee contends that the transit authority is currently running movie posters for "Fatal Instinct" that are sexually suggestive and more offensive than the proposed condom ads, which feature wrapped prophylactics and catchy phrases promoting safe sex. MBTA officials say they are not censoring the ads--they merely want the wording toned down. "We're not apologizing for the signage," says Larry Kessler, executive director of the committee. "They're direct and clever. They're certainly not obscene." MBTA General Manager John Haley, however, justifies the rejection, noting that passengers vary in age from two months to 90 years old. "We've got to make some judgments as to what is appropriate," he says, adding that some of the condom ads "just go to far." Sarah Wunsch, a staff attorney for the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union, filed suit Tuesday against the MBTA on behalf of the AIDS committee. "It's our contention that they're violating the First Amendment and the state's constitutional right to free speech," she says. Court Ruling, AIDS Vote Cause Outcry in France * Reuters (10/27/93) Paris--A court ruling in an AIDS lawsuit and a parliamentary vote on HIV testing Wednesday triggered outrage in France. In the northern town of Metz, Judge Margareth Stagier placed a mother and father under investigation for failing to caution their daughter's boyfriend about her HIV-positive status. The man, identified only as Fabien, became infected with the virus and sued the girl, who was placed under investigation last year for suspected poisoning. "If [the parents] had warned my client, he would not have been infected with the deadly virus," attested Marie Laurence Folmer, Fabien's attorney. Stagier's decision drew immediate criticism from the magistrates' union, which denounced the ruling as a irresponsible, brutal, and dangerous interference and accused Stagier of overstepping her limits in an area best left to public health authorities. Human rights activists said the judge's ruling could cause HIV-infected individuals to hide their condition from family and have "a clandestine sex life." The second incident, the Senate vote Tuesday night for mandatory testing for the AIDS virus of all tuberculosis patients, also drew widespread condemnation. Health Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called the amendment dangerous. Arena's Bold AIDS Play Focuses on Home, Family * Baltimore Sun (10/28/93) P. 4E Rousuck, J. Wynn The nation's oldest continuously operating black community theater will present a play that revolves around something that African-Americans are becoming all too familiar with--AIDS. Cheryl West's "Before It Hits Home," the first major drama to portray the effect of the deadly disease among blacks, imparts much essential information about AIDS but focuses especially on nature, home, and the limitations of familial love. The script is bold in its language, depiction of the disease, and treatment of the lead character's bisexuality. The play itself centers around jazz sax player Wendal Bailey, who discovers he has AIDS and tells his male lover, but cannot bring himself to confront his girlfriend. Partner notification, thus, becomes an important theme and lesson of the play. Weak and discouraged, the protagonist visits home, where his mother abandons him when he needs her most and his father, who has always complained of his son's shortcomings, dishes out unconditional love. "Before It Hits Home" is being staged by the Arena Players in Baltimore, Md., through Nov. 14. Targeted Genetics Corp.: HIV-Killing Cells Used as Experimental Gene Therapy * PR Newswire (10/25/93) Seattle--Targeted Genetics Corp. announced the start of a gene therapy trial for a potential HIV treatment called adoptive immunotherapy in which genetically modified cells specifically recognize and destroy HIV-infected cells. These "killer" T-cells will be isolated, modified to contain a special suicide gene, expanded to several billion cells, then reinfused back into the patient. Ideally, the process will enhance the immune system's ability to combat HIV symptoms. "People who are HIV-positive face continuous depletion of killer T-cells which they need to fight infection," said Dr. Philip D. Greenberg of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a co-director of the study. "With this approach, we hope to decrease or eliminate stores of latent HIV, increase the body's ability to fight the virus, and perhaps shut down the virus producing factory." Fifteen participants will receive four infusions at two week intervals at increasing cell doses, with follow up continuing for 13 months. The trial is designed to evaluate antiviral effects and safety. Over 2,300 German AIDS Cases From HIV-Infected Blood * United Press International (10/22/93) Berlin--The Federal Health Office (BGA) in Berlin announced last week that a total of 2,305 Germans became infected with the AIDS virus after receiving contaminated blood and pharmaceutical products. The BGA said there are currently 60,000 known cases of HIV infection in Germany, and that three-fourths of those involve homosexuals. The BGA, an arm of the German Federal Health Ministry, will be disassembled in response to scandal over alleged misconduct in the handling of HIV-infected blood in the 1980s. Sheffield Medical Technologies and Johns Hopkins Collaborate on Clinical Development of AIDS Therapeutic; Planning Underway for RBC-CD4 Phase IIA Clinical Trial * Business Wire (10/25/93) Houston--Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. announced that Johns Hopkins University will conduct a double-blinded, Phase II clinical trial of Sheffield's red blood cell(RBC)-CD4 Complex in 12 HIV-infected patients. The study is designed to evaluate the antiviral activity of the RBC-CD4 Complex on viral load and to determine the safety and tolerability of recombinant full-length CD4 electroinserted into red blood cells. "Given the lack of toxicity demonstrated in Phase I and the positive results of in vitro patient isolate studies, we are optimistic that the RBC-CD4 electroinsertion technology may offer a new mode of therapy for physicians to provide their patients," said Dr. Claude Nicolau, co-inventor of the technology, visiting professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and director of the Blood Research and Development Laboratory at the Center for Blood Research Laboratories Inc. AmFar President to Speak in Wooster * United Press International (10/26/93) Wooster, Ohio--The president of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFar) will deliver a lecture on "Youth and AIDS" on Thursday, Oct. 28, at the 1993-94 Wooster Forum. As one of the country's top public health authorities, Dr. Mervyn Silverman has been active in the battle against AIDS since the onslaught of the epidemic. Silverman previously served as medical director of Planned Parenthood in Kansas, director of the Federal Drug Administration's Office of Consumer Affairs, and regional medical program director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific for the Peace Corps. As director of the San Francisco Department of Health from 1977-85, Silverman was key in launching a city-wide campaign to combat the rapidly growing AIDS epidemic. His presentation is the fourth lecture in a series at the Forum, and is free and open to the public. Agouron Reports Novel Anti-HIV Compounds * PR Newswire (10/20/93) La Jolla, Calif.--At a recent New Orleans conference on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. unveiled the chemical structure of a novel class of chemical compounds that may inhibit a key enzyme required for HIV replication and which may, consequently, block HIV infection of T-cells in vitro. Agouron scientist Dr. Krzysztof Appelt described how each new compound in the series fits into an "active site" on the surface of the enzyme HIV protease. The Agouron research team achieved a 60,000-fold enhancement in the potency of the first compound. That resulted in a compound called AG1284, which inactivated the enzyme with a potency equal to that of the most potent inhibitors of HIV protease. "We are encouraged and excited by the preclinical research results reported today in New Orleans," said Agouron President and CEO Peter Johnson, "but we wish to sound a general caution against premature expectations for anti-HIV agents based solely upon preclinical data." Ross Prepares Launch of Beverage for AIDS Patients * Adweek--Eastern Edition (10/18/93) Vol. 34, No. 42, P. 9 Riddle, Judith Springer Ross Products, a division of Abbott Laboratories, plans to target the health care profession in a print advertising and public relations blitz to market a nutritional drink formulated expressly to meet the dietary needs of people with HIV/AIDS. The beverage, known as Advera, is fortified with vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients. High in calories for weight management and high in protein to maintain lean body mass, the drink professes to boost the immune system, reduce repeated hospitalization, and sustain life. Advera will be sold in six-pack cans of chocolate or orange creme-flavored drinks at an estimated price of $20. It will likely be covered by third-party plans. The recommended dosage will be three eight-ounce cans each day. Advertising and marketing a product such as Advera raises thorny issues such as sensitivity and product credibility. Companies "selling products to people with HIV and AIDS have to deal with the confidentiality issue and maintaining their customer's dignity," cautioned Michael Goff, editor and president of the gay publication Out. "If the product doesn't do what it says it will do, it will immediately be exposed. These people are very savvy customers who are interested in their health care," he said. Print ads break next month in healthcare trade journals. AIDS Digest: Genetic 'Antisense' Drug Enters Human Testing * Washington Blade (10/22/93) Vol. 24, No. 45, P. 29 Massachusetts-based drug company Hybridon announced the recent kick-off of a clinical trial to test a new drug that interferes with the genetic code of HIV. France's National Agency for the Fight Against AIDS is co-sponsoring the trial of GEM 91, a so-called "antisense" molecule. While other anti-HIV drugs attack the virus enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, the antisense drug attacks the "gag" protein on HIV's messenger, RNA, a copy of the DNA that the AIDS virus uses to replicate. By directly attacking the genetic code of HIV, the antisense molecule may overcome one of the major obstacles in current HIV treatment: the ability of the virus to build resistance to AZT, ddI, and other lab drugs. Lab tests have shown that the antisense molecule can prevent replication in a variety of HIV strains. The study of the 24 patients who are receiving drug injections will determine the safety and tolerability of the drug. October 29, 1993 German Plasma Firm Closed * Wall Street Journal (10/29/93) P. A11 The German government has revoked the manufacturing license of UB-Plasma, and police have shut down the pharmaceutical firm in Koblenz, Germany, which failed to ensure that all of its blood products were not contaminated with the AIDS virus. Authorities were trying to locate the company's products, their intention being to destroy potentially tainted blood that was delivered to 74 German hospitals. Although some donors to UB-Plasma tested HIV-positive, only 2,500 of 7,000 units of blood products were tested. The country is in the midst of a criminal probe concerning a scandal in which the German government disclosed that officials hushed up reports of HIV-contaminated blood that may have caused the death of some hemophiliacs. Prison Guards Complain of Working Conditions * United Press International (10/28/93) Crescent City, Calif.--Correctional officers at Pelican Bay State Prison in California have filed a complaint accusing the state of failure to protect them from the human waste of inmates, which is often pitched at them from cells. The waste is a health threat to the guards because it may contain blood with infectious agents, such as HIV and hepatitis, contend some 800 guards at the maximum-security prison. The case was closed, however, when the agency concluded that the complaint was not under its jurisdiction because there was a lack of evidence proving that waste carries such infectious diseases. The guards have asked the agency to reconsider and to cover cell doors with plexiglass to block waste from hitting them as they pass. Pelican Bay Warden Charles Marshall said that the proposal is not feasible because it would impair the climate control functions in the cells. He noted, however, that the department provides face masks for correctional officers, and disciplines prisoners who repeatedly throw waste at the guards. Indonesia to Hand Out Free Condoms in Irian Jaya * Reuters (10/28/93) Jakarta--In an effort to curb the spread of AIDS, health officials will give away 16,000 condoms in the remote eastern province of Irian Jaya, reported the Antara news agency. The goal of the condom distribution is to prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases in that province, said health official Irwan Kriyono, as quoted by Antara. The program was created after the number of people with HIV increased recently. Irian Jaya officials reported in June that 46 people, most of whom were Thai nationals working under contract on a fishing boat, had been infected with the deadly virus. Four Asian Nations Join Drug-Fighting Alliance * United Press International (10/27/93) Bangkok--Four Asian countries added their names to the United Nations' International Drug Control Program to combat illegal drug production and trafficking in the "Golden Triangle" area of Southeast Asia. China, Laos, Burma, and Thailand on Wednesday signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" agreement designed to strengthen cooperation in fighting illicit substances. It also provides for high-level consultations between the four governments and the UNDCP about the regional problems linked to illegal drug production, trafficking, abuse, and HIV infection caused by injecting drug use. There has been some progress in reducing opium production in Laos and Thailand and blocking heroin trafficking from the Golden Triangle to China, said the four nations in a statement. Sub regional countries, however, "have also experienced increasingly serious drug abuse problems, particularly among poor disadvantaged groups, and the intravenous use of heroin has been contributing to the spread of the HIV-AIDS infection," the statement reported. ISIS Files for Antisense Drug to Treat CMV Infections That Cause Blindness in AIDS Patients * PR Newswire (10/27/93) Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. has, for the second time, filed an investigational new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for the use of an antisense drug for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. CMV retinitis is an opportunistic viral infection that occurs in up to 46 percent of people with AIDS and often causes blindness. Current therapies for CMV retinitis delay the progression of the infection for only a short while before the disease progresses and often cause side effects that render the treatment incompatible with patients. ISIS 2922, a highly sensitive antisense compound, prevents the production of a protein essential for HIV replication, and has been shown in vitro to work against strains of the virus that are resistant to current therapies. Also, ISIS 2922 may have fewer side effects. Monkey experiments indicate that the drug can be safely administered by intravitreal injection on a weekly or biweekly schedule. The Immune Response Corporation Receives U.S. Patent on HIV Technology * PR Newswire (10/27/93) Carlsbad, Calif.--The Immune Response Corporation has received a U.S. patent relating to its HIV immunotherapeutic product, which is designed to boost the immune system of HIV-infected individuals and thereby allow the body's normal defense mechanism to control the virus. A Phase II/III clinical trial of the product has been completed in conjunction with Rhone Poulenc-Rorer Inc. Titled "Retroviral Antigens," the patent names Drs. Jonas Salk and Dennis J. Carlo as inventors IDC's Virotech Unit Secures Favorable Test Results With Anti-HIV Drug * PR Newswire (10/27/93) Minneapolis--Virotech, Inc., a subsidiary of IDC Holdings, Ltd., announced that one of its anti-HIV compounds achieved significant viral reduction at low concentrations with negligible toxicity to healthy cells. Virotech scientists initially theorized that the compound would inhibit viral activity within the form of the body's own defense cells known as macrophages. When tested independently for HIV, however, researchers discovered that this new drug was active not only against macrophages, but against lymphocytes as well. Richard D. Rotondo, vice president of research for Virotech, said that he is unaware of another drug that accomplishes that feat. Rotondo also offered Virotech's speculations as to how the drug works. "One theory is that this compound inhibits viral activity by altering the structural replication process of the HIV virus. It may be that, in the process of viral replication, this drug binds to one or more HIV viral-specific enzymes throughout the life cycle of the virus. Accordingly, the enzymes necessary for replication are rendered inactive," he explained. "Several other theoretical modes of action could also be possible, including prophylactic effects with binding on the cell surface that inhibits the binding and inclusion of the viral particle." American Red Cross Selects Ortho-Chiron Joint Business as Major Supplier for Blood Screening Tests * Business Wire (10/27/93) Emeryville, Calif.--The American Red Cross has signed a contract to purchase several mandated blood virus ELISA screening tests exclusively from the joint immunodiagnostic business of Chiron Corp. and Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc. For a three-year period beginning March 1, 1994, the Red Cross will buy four or five ELISA tests to screen for hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. The nation's largest collector of donated whole blood, the American Red Cross collects close to one-half of the units of whole blood donated annually in the United States. Screening tests that indicate the presence of hepatitis and AIDS infectious agents have dramatically improved the safety of the country's blood supply. Diagnostik Purchases HIV/AIDS Specialty Pharmacy Company * PR Newswire (10/27/93) Albuquerque, N.M.--Diagnostik, Inc. has announced the $9 million acquisition of Chronitech Health Services, Inc., which provides specialty pharmacy, homecare medication, and infusion services to the HIV/AIDS market. "This acquisition enables Diagnostik to respond quickly to the growing need for quality, reliable specialized pharmacy services," said Nunzio DeSantis, chairman and CEO of Diagnostik. "The prescription market for HIV and AIDS is largely unmanaged. We'll coordinate pharmacy care in accordance with our managed care philosophy, emphasizing choice, clinical pharmacy expertise, and comprehensive information management." The RxChoice program, a point-of-service medical drug program that allows patients to fill prescriptions at a national preferred retail pharmacy network, will also benefit AIDS patients. "Prescription drug bills for AIDS patients are staggering, often exceeding $10,000 per person annually," says DeSantis. "Our RxChoice prescription program offers affordable, accessible pharmacy care, with a premium on service and quality. We're extremely pleased to be able to extend our help to those people suffering from HIV and AIDS. Diagnostik also offers a state-of-the-art mail service for patients to fill maintenance prescriptions, a key benefit for long-term AIDS-related drug therapies. Northwest Philadelphia AIDS Prevention Program to Hold Kick-Off Event; Temple University's Full Circle Theater to Be Featured * PR Newswire (10/25/93) "Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands," a new AIDS education and prevention program for residents of Northwest Philadelphia, will present a special performance featuring Temple University's Full Circle Theater to launch the campaign. "Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands" is a community intervention project that aims to lower the risk of HIV infection in the community by using peer education, workshops, and improvisational theater to create a forum between teens, adults, and older adults. A joint effort between community leaders, agency representatives, and Northwest Philadelphia teenagers, the project is funded by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and managed by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation. The kick-off event will be held the evening of Friday, Oct. 29, and will be followed by discussion about communication between adults and adolescents. Infant AIDS Prevention Study Finally Gets Going * Journal of American Medical Association (10/20/93) Vol. 270, No. 15, P. 1785 Cotton, Paul After a year-long delay, HIV immunoglobulin (HIVIG), which may prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus from pregnant mothers to their infants, will finally be tested in a clinical trial. Researchers hope that HIVIG, which contains antibodies to HIV, will work much in the same way as do similar products with antibodies that prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B or cytomegalovirus. The trial, initially scheduled for July 1992, was delayed when HIVIG supplier Abbott Laboratories backed out in fear of legal liability should the product increase the risk of infecting infants. Many claim that fear is unfounded because, although the product is made from patients who are HIV-positive, rigorous measures are taken to inactivate the virus. A new manufacturer is now supplying HIVIG for the trial, which is being sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Recruitment, however, must start over because the women who were to enter the trial in 1992 have since given birth, said Elaine M. Sloand, assistant to the director of NHLBI. Punctures in Surgical Gloves * Lancet (Great Britain) (10/16/93) Vol. 342, No. 8877, P. 984 Lane, T. Vaughan et al. The practice of "double gloving" among orthopedic surgeons serves a dual purpose, according to Lane et al. Surgeons are concerned about infection risks for the patient and, at the same time, double gloves provide added protection for the staff should one glove be punctured. Wearing extra gloves effectively reduces the perforation rate in the inner glove. A simple method for detecting punctured gloves is to wear colored inner gloves to visualize the ingress of blood or body fluids. If a puncture is identified, the surgeon can then take the necessary precautions. Lane et al. tested a prototype colored glove worn beneath a standard one. After being used during 25 orthopedic operations in which 148 outer gloves were used by three surgeons, all gloves were examined by water pressure for punctures. Twenty-nine punctures were discovered, 23 of which were noticed by the surgeon during the medical procedure. Lane et al. conclude that the inner glove is helpful to surgeons in identifying punctures and indicating when it is necessary to change gloves. NOTE: Compilation by Michael Tidmus : AIDSwire. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to republish on electronic media for which no fee is charged, provided the complete text of this notice is attached to any republished portion or portions. * From the AIDS Daily Summary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse has made this information available 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. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. -----===[[[ A I D S w i r e D I G E S T 10.25.93 ]]]===----- .