Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

[Skerik]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=2006-02-06T232903Z_01_N06167221_RTRUKOC_0_US-AIDS-PREVENTION.xml&rpc=22

Wow. It would be amazing if they eventually got to the point where HIV infection in humans could be prevented with a pill. Granted we're still a long way from that scenario, but this is some pretty encouraging data.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsar...ION.xml&rpc=22

Wow. It would be amazing if they eventually got to the point where HIV infection in humans could be prevented with a pill. Granted we're still a long way from that scenario, but this is some pretty encouraging data.

Interesting news, not to surprising. I personally, would not be in favor of preventative pills. There are just far too many side effects, that is true in these anti-viral drugs. They actually turn out to be rather nasty little drugs, effective but I don't know the long term effects of taking these nucleotide analog drugs.

The best case senerio for HIV prevention would be a vaccine. That has been the dream of scientists for a while, unfortunetly, the virus is smarter than we are, it knows how to survive.

[cch99]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

The way they test this stuff is pretty disgusting though. I don't think any animal should have to go throught that crap.

How about tell people don't put yourself in a situation that will give you AIDS. If you get it it is your own fault. At least in like 99% of the cases anymore.

But after reading that article and how they do that. It's pretty sickening.

I know some people will say they are just animals and it is worth it but it just bothers me.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

The way they test this stuff is pretty disgusting though. I don't think any animal should have to go throught that crap.

How about tell people don't put yourself in a situation that will give you AIDS. If you get it it is your own fault. At least in like 99% of the cases anymore.

But after reading that article and how they do that. It's pretty sickening.

I know some people will say they are just animals and it is worth it but it just bothers me.

In a sense I totally agree with you, I know a lot of scientist who refuse to get in volved with animal testing. I personally don't know if I could do it myself. But the undeniable fact is that they are needed and there is NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT. Sad but true.

As to the ethics of HIV transimision, I'm not going to touch that one other than to say sometimes life is not that cut and dry.

[cch99]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

As to the ethics of HIV transimision, I'm not going to touch that one other than to say sometimes life is not that cut and dry.[/QUOTE]

Believe me I know what your saying and for people who get it by no fault of there own I feel horrible for.
I was speaking more towards the people who choose to put themselves in risky situations and expose themselves to that risk for either selfish reasons or just plain laziness.

I personally have put myself in situaions in the past that weren't the safest and if that would have happened to me I would have had no one to blame but myself. I wouldn't feel good knowing that # of animals had to die to find a cure for something I could have prevented by not putting myself in the situation.

I guess my bottom line thought is that just because we have the ability to test other creatures and use them like that doesn't make it right. It doesn't make us better or more important than those animals. I guess the only way I would feel right about doing that is if it was to prevent the extinction of the human race and even then your walking a fine line.

As far as there being NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT, all I have to say is you would probably feel a whole lot different if you were the one being tested on. The monkeys may not be as intelligent as we are but that is a horrible way to live. Without taking this to a religious slant, who are we to say we are more important than animals just because of our intelligence ?

[mgoblue]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

I wonder if this type of thing will cause HIV to mutate again? How long does the pill work before the virus changes to a more virulent, aggressive strain?

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

I wonder if this type of thing will cause HIV to mutate again? How long does the pill work before the virus changes to a more virulent, aggressive strain?

When you do a combination therapy you minimize the ability of the virus to mutate because you are hitting multiple targets. In that way a single mutation in the target is less likely to cause a new resistant strain.

I still say that giving someone to potent antiviral compounds is just begging for trouble. And you may be right that repeated exposure will statistically be asking for trouble.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

I wonder if this type of thing will cause HIV to mutate again? How long does the pill work before the virus changes to a more virulent, aggressive strain?

Hell, how long before somehow its mutated till its an airborn virus? I know that's unlikely to happen, but with every invention we come up with to counter viruses. They only get stronger and adapt to the measures we are taking to block it.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

As far as there being NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT, all I have to say is you would probably feel a whole lot different if you were the one being tested on. The monkeys may not be as intelligent as we are but that is a horrible way to live. Without taking this to a religious slant, who are we to say we are more important than animals just because of our intelligence ?

Oh boy this could end up being a whole other ball of wax, I respect what you are saying. All I can tell you is that it is a nessasary evil. Are you willing to trade the oppertunity to live through a disease, or would you just rather let nature run its course and see what happens? If your a vegaterian and you believe that we should not test animals that is your right to think that, but I tell you what if it was me I want the oppertunity to live. Maybe that is selfish, but every drug, theorpy etc out there at one point has been tested on an animal. It is the very nature of modern life, we as the dominent species dictate life and death. It is the way things are.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

Hell, how long before somehow its mutated till its an airborn virus? I know that's unlikely to happen, but with every invention we come up with to counter viruses. They only get stronger and adapt to the measures we are taking to block it.

Fortunetly, viruses do not just assume new abilities (if you will). They would have to get that ability from a foreign organism. That is the real fear with the bird flu. Avian flu is bad enough, however it is hard to transmit, if it infected a host (human) that also had a strain of the flu it may be posible to form a new more easy transmited strain of the avian. That is the real concern, having said all that I do not know how easy that would be, so I would not lose too much sleep over it.

[cch99]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

Oh boy this could end up being a whole other ball of wax, I respect what you are saying. All I can tell you is that it is a nessasary evil. Are you willing to trade the oppertunity to live through a disease, or would you just rather let nature run its course and see what happens? If your a vegaterian and you believe that we should not test animals that is your right to think that, but I tell you what if it was me I want the oppertunity to live. Maybe that is selfish, but every drug, theorpy etc out there at one point has been tested on an animal. It is the very nature of modern life, we as the dominent species dictate life and death. It is the way things are.

I see both sides of this. I know where you are coming from and until I am going through that situation where I or a child or someone close need some medication to stay alive I can't say for sure what I would want. I am not a vegetarian so it's not that. I just feel bad for anything that has to go through the pain and suffering these animals have to go through so that we can live a better life.

I guess I feel worse when it comes to things that we can prevent from happening like HIV/AIDS.

And with a preventative I think thats skewing even more towards disagreeing with it. I mean who would be taking this pill. Well, it's Friday night and I am gonna go out and get me some. Let me take my AIDS preventative so i can hook up with any woman or man I want. That's what bothers me more. I can see it for Doctor's and nurses and people who don't have control over being in a dangerous situation but a drug like this definitely feels to me like a money drug.

I don't feel as strongly when it comes to trying to find cures for exisitng diseases but when it is for a preventative that could be unneccessary by just taking some precautions it sits a little worse.

But I respect your opinion. Everyone disagrees about something.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

thanks for the knowledge halltheway. I'm not too worried about HIV mutating yet! But as you said they can't just change for the sake of changing... so as long as humanity is smart and does not do anything to facilitate this change, then I guess we'll be just fine.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

so as long as humanity is smart and does not do anything to facilitate this change, then I guess we'll be just fine.

LOL that what scares me, since when is humanity smart.

[halltheway]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

And with a preventative I think thats skewing even more towards disagreeing with it. I mean who would be taking this pill. Well, it's Friday night and I am gonna go out and get me some. Let me take my AIDS preventative so i can hook up with any woman or man I want. That's what bothers me more. I can see it for Doctor's and nurses and people who don't have control over being in a dangerous situation but a drug like this definitely feels to me like a money drug.

ABSOLUTLY, taking the risk out of it makes life even more dangerous. Who knows what lies (pardon the pun) around the corner!!

But I respect your opinion. Everyone disagrees about something.

Totally agree, good civil discussion of an important issue

[EaglesFan]

Re: Drug combo prevents HIV infection in monkeys

How about tell people don't put yourself in a situation that will give you AIDS. If you get it it is your own fault. At least in like 99% of the cases anymore.

While harsh, it's also true.

HIV/AIDS, imo, was government created, and I don't think we'll ever see a cure. It's a perfect population control.