The Change Mariner

Study Signals Promise for New HIV Therapy

Yahoo! News:

Researchers may finally be on track to fight the AIDS virus by blocking a long-elusive target, an HIV enzyme called integrase. An experimental drug that inhibits the enzyme helped to keep the infection in check in monkeys.

Far more research is needed to prove if Merck & Co.'s approach really can block this enzyme's crucial work in helping HIV reproduce and spread. After all, years of attempts at targeting integrase have failed.

In a study published Thursday in the journal Science, Merck reports that an integrase inhibitor dramatically protected monkeys when the drug was given early in infection. The drug also provided some benefit to the very sick.

Merck is studying some integrase inhibitor candidates in a few people to see whether the pills seem safe and to check for any early signs of viral suppression. Results, due by early next year, will determine whether larger studies should be performed on the prospective drugs.

Posted by Timothy Fredel at July 8, 2004 08:06 PM | TrackBack
Related Categories: Industry - Healthcare | Industry - Pharmaceutical/Biotech | Quadrant - Technological | Theme - 'The Biotech Century'

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