HIV gene therapy 'shows promise'

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HIV gene therapy 'shows promise'

Preliminary tests suggest HIV infection can be treated using a disabled

version of the virus itself.

Researchers at Pennsylvania University treated five patients, who had

not responded to drugs, with disabled HIV.

It carried added genetic material that blocks HIV reproduction and as a

result HIV levels in the patients' blood either stabilised or

decreased.

The research raises the prospect that gene therapy might provide an

alternative to antiretroviral drugs.

The long-term effectiveness of the drugs is under threat from the

growing problem of drug resistance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6120042.stm

Dr. Avnish Jolly

e-mail: <avnishjolly@...>