Saturday, September 22, 2007

Drug company suspends HIV vaccine work

International drug company Merck has suspended work on an experimental vaccine that was regarded as one of the most promising in the fight against HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS.

Testing of the drug has stopped after a monitoring panel judged it to be ineffective.

The experiment called 'STEP' began three years ago, enrolling 3,000 volunteers.

All of them were initially free of HIV but they were at high risk of contracting the virus.

Most were homosexual men or female sex workers and Merck says they were repeatedly counselled about how to reduce their risk of HIV infection.
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NeurogesX Completes Enrollment in Confirmatory Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Painful HIV Distal Sensory Polyneuropathy

NeurogesX, Inc. announced today that it has completed enrollment in study C119, a second Phase 3 clinical trial of its lead product candidate NGX-4010 for the treatment of painful HIV-distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSP). NGX-4010 is a dermal patch designed to manage peripheral neuropathic pain. Previously completed Phase 3 trials demonstrated that a single, 30- or 60-minute treatment with NGX-4010 applied directly to the site of pain may provide pain relief for up to three months. C119 is a randomized, double-blind, controlled study that has enrolled over 480 patients at study sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. read more

League players spread HIV message in PNG

For the third year running, top Australian rugby league players have visited Papua New Guinea to deliver messages about HIV/AIDS awareness and non-violence against women.

An Australian prime minister's XIII in Port Moresby to play a PNG prime minister's XIII on Sunday took time on Saturday to visit a coastal village near the capital and an army barracks.
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LETTER OF THE DAY - HIV epidemic deserves 'reality check'

The activities for the past few weeks have been note-worthy in many ways. The people did not give the former Prime Minister her "mandate" and the one who left for the wilderness, returning as the prodigal son is now Jamaica's eighth Prime Minister.

But when all the euphoria vanishes, what we are left with is the realism of the country in which we live. The reality which I would like to highlight to your readers is the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

I am aware that this topic is discussed preferably in hushed tones, behind closed doors. However, if we are to stem the spread of this disease, we need to get rid of the 'Ostrich Syndrome'. read more

Uganda: Army Warned on HIV

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has warned the Uganda People's Defence Forces against the AIDS scourge.

Passing out 2,231 HIV-free recruits who completed a nine-month course at the Kaweweta Military School, 291km northwest of Kampala on Thursday, Museveni cautioned the soldiers against reckless living.

This is the biggest problem for you, young people, reckless living. You end up sick and becoming a disappointment to your family, the army and the country. We did not train you to die of AIDS. We have trained you to live long, work for your army and your country." read more

Possible HIV carrier sought on rape charges

A Salt Lake City man wanted for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl may also have HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - and may pose a public health risk, police warned Friday.

Christians Michell Ortiz, 22, is charged with rape and two counts of forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies, as well as second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse.

Jeff Bedard, a Salt Lake City police spokesman, said the alleged victim is the daughter of a woman with whom Ortiz is acquainted. read more

Star's HIV fear out of documentary

Pop star George Michael has asked the BBC not to broadcast an interview in which he discusses his HIV fears.

The singer spoke openly with Stephen Fry for a forthcoming documentary. He is said to have admitted that he has not taken a test for at least three years because he fears it might be positive.

His former partner, Anselmo Feleppa, died of an Aids-related illness in 1995.

But the interview has now been removed from the programme at Michael's request.
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