HIV/AIDS News and Research

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Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Causes of hepatitis and potential therapies that may improve care presented in study

Hepatitis, a potentially serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver, is a major problem worldwide. Hepatitis A is generally food-borne, while hepatitis B and C spread primarily through parenteral or sexual routes. Hepatitis B and C can be life-long, potentially deadly chronic infections.

19 May 2004

Britain's youth complacent about HIV/AIDS

New data from surveys across the UK reveal a decline in 12-15 year olds’ knowledge about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Figures from 1995-2001, (see tables), using a sample of 142,281 young people, show a declining trend of youngsters who think that HIV can be passed on by:

19 May 2004

Canadian Statement to the World Health Assembly focuses on AIDS

The WHO's leadership is particularly important in the fight to combat HIV/AIDS. Last week, Canada bolstered its financial commitment to this effort with contributions of $100 million for WHO's '3 by 5 initiative', and $70 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Canada and Canadians are proud to take these actions against HIV/AIDS.

19 May 2004

New book highlights pros and cons of medical use of cannabis

A new book which brings together the relevant science regarding the beneficial effects of cannabis for identified medical conditions and explains many harmful side effects has been launched at Australia's Southern Cross University today.

19 May 2004

Benitec acquires Avocel to focus on rapid development of hepatitis C therapeutics

Benitec Ltd. today announced the acquisition of Avocel, Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA, a leading RNAi therapeutics company, and the establishment of its wholly-owned US subsidiary, Benitec, Inc. Through the acquisition, Benitec gains its first in-house advanced therapeutic development program using DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) to target the Hepatitis C virus.

18 May 2004

Manipulation of the body’s own natural killer cells to destroy cells containing the HIV virus

Current treatments for HIV block the virus from replicating, but don’t kill the cells that contain HIV. The existence of these HIV-harboring cells -- often called the “latent” or “resting reservoir” -- is regarded by many to be the main obstacle to finding a cure for HIV.

18 May 2004

UN round table looks at rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons

The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons, and practical measures to curb the spread of the disease in this section of society was the subject of a round table organized today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and attended by high-level international experts.

17 May 2004

GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim agree to assess the development of important HIV medicines for the developing world

GlaxoSmithKline plc and Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that both companies welcome the United States' continued involvement in the global response to HIV/AIDS.

17 May 2004

Guidelines for FUZEON (enfuvirtide) are published today in AIDS

New international consensus guidelines for FUZEON (enfuvirtide) are published today in AIDS, the official journal of the International AIDS Society.

17 May 2004

HHS to ensure safe, effective drugs delivered to developing countries under the President's $15 billion plan for AIDS relief

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced an expedited review process to ensure that the United States is providing safe, effective drugs to developing countries under the President's $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

16 May 2004

The federal government should expand its role in the financing of HIV/AIDS treatment for low-income Americans

The federal government should expand its role in the financing of HIV/AIDS treatment for low-income Americans to ensure that the thousands of HIV-infected people currently not receiving care through existing programs gain access to the services they need, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

16 May 2004

Plans for once-daily, fixed-dose combination of three anti-HIV drugs

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. have announced that they are in discussions on the development of a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of three anti-HIV drugs and are also considering certain co-packaging options for the individual products.

16 May 2004

CDC announces new goals and organizational structure

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Julie Gerberding announced today new goals and integrated operations that will allow the federal public health agency to have greater impact on the health of people around the world.

15 May 2004

Canada announces new HIV/AIDS funding of $84.4 million annually

Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that funding for the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CSHA) will double over the next five years to $84.4 million annually. In the first year, funding will be targeted to support community-based organizations working with populations most at risk of infection.

15 May 2004

Risk of artery plaques increased by use of HIV drugs

An Italian study has provided evidence that HIV drugs called protease inhibitors may increase the risk of artery "plaques."

15 May 2004

3 people with drug-resistant HIV become first to undergo a new form of gene therapy

The idea is to use a modified form of HIV to deliver an "antisense" gene to the immune cells that HIV infects. This is integrated into the cells' genome, and stays there until a cell is infected. Then it is switched on, and produces RNA complementary to the "sense" RNA encoding a viral protein. In theory, the RNAs should bind together, blocking viral replication.

14 May 2004

World Health Assembly set to tackle HIV/AIDS, SARS, the global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

The World Health Assembly, bringing the 192 Member States of the World Health Organization together, is set to consider several critical health issues next week.

14 May 2004

WHO admits target on AIDS drugs may be unrealistic

In its Annual World Health Report 2004, the WHO said that more donor funds than ever before, at least $20.5bn (£11.5bn; 17.3bn), are available for AIDS relief in the world's poorest countries, but a huge concerted effort will be needed to get antiretroviral drugs to millions of people who need them before it is too late.

14 May 2004

AIDS Foundation praises Governor Schwarzenegger for restoring AIDS funding

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest AIDS organization -- issued the following statement in response to today's news that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's "May Revise" budget includes a 13% increase to the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

14 May 2004

Largest study comparing leading hepatitis C treatments

Medical centers, hospitals, clinics and other treatment sites across the country are actively enrolling Americans with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a nationwide study that will for the first time determine which of the two FDA-approved pegylated interferon therapy regimens offers patients the best chance to eliminate the virus.

14 May 2004

HIV/AIDS News and Research

Further Reading

Causes of hepatitis and potential therapies that may improve care presented in study

Britain's youth complacent about HIV/AIDS

Canadian Statement to the World Health Assembly focuses on AIDS

New book highlights pros and cons of medical use of cannabis

Benitec acquires Avocel to focus on rapid development of hepatitis C therapeutics

Manipulation of the body’s own natural killer cells to destroy cells containing the HIV virus

UN round table looks at rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons

GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim agree to assess the development of important HIV medicines for the developing world

Guidelines for FUZEON (enfuvirtide) are published today in AIDS

HHS to ensure safe, effective drugs delivered to developing countries under the President's $15 billion plan for AIDS relief

The federal government should expand its role in the financing of HIV/AIDS treatment for low-income Americans

Plans for once-daily, fixed-dose combination of three anti-HIV drugs

CDC announces new goals and organizational structure

Canada announces new HIV/AIDS funding of $84.4 million annually

Risk of artery plaques increased by use of HIV drugs

3 people with drug-resistant HIV become first to undergo a new form of gene therapy

World Health Assembly set to tackle HIV/AIDS, SARS, the global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

WHO admits target on AIDS drugs may be unrealistic

AIDS Foundation praises Governor Schwarzenegger for restoring AIDS funding

Largest study comparing leading hepatitis C treatments

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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