From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" AIDS Daily Summary October 29, 1993 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "German Plasma Firm Closed" Wall Street Journal (10/29/93) P. A11 The German government has revoked the manufacturing license of UB-Plasma, and police have shut down the pharmaceutical firm in Koblenz, Germany, which failed to ensure that all of its blood products were not contaminated with the AIDS virus. Authorities were trying to locate the company's products, their intention being to destroy potentially tainted blood that was delivered to 74 German hospitals. Although some donors to UB-Plasma tested HIV-positive, only 2,500 of 7,000 units of blood products were tested. The country is in the midst of a criminal probe concerning a scandal in which the German government disclosed that officials hushed up reports of HIV-contaminated blood that may have caused the death of some hemophiliacs. "Prison Guards Complain of Working Conditions" United Press International (10/28/93) Crescent City, Calif.--Correctional officers at Pelican Bay State Prison in California have filed a complaint accusing the state of failure to protect them from the human waste of inmates, which is often pitched at them from cells. The waste is a health threat to the guards because it may contain blood with infectious agents, such as HIV and hepatitis, contend some 800 guards at the maximum-security prison. The case was closed, however, when the agency concluded that the complaint was not under its jurisdiction because there was a lack of evidence proving that waste carries such infectious diseases. The guards have asked the agency to reconsider and to cover cell doors with plexiglass to block waste from hitting them as they pass. Pelican Bay Warden Charles Marshall said that the proposal is not feasible because it would impair the climate control functions in the cells. He noted, however, that the department provides face masks for correctional officers, and disciplines prisoners who repeatedly throw waste at the guards. "Indonesia to Hand Out Free Condoms in Irian Jaya" Reuters (10/28/93) Jakarta--In an effort to curb the spread of AIDS, health officials will give away 16,000 condoms in the remote eastern province of Irian Jaya, reported the Antara news agency. The goal of the condom distribution is to prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases in that province, said health official Irwan Kriyono, as quoted by Antara. The program was created after the number of people with HIV increased recently. Irian Jaya officials reported in June that 46 people, most of whom were Thai nationals working under contract on a fishing boat, had been infected with the deadly virus. "Four Asian Nations Join Drug-Fighting Alliance" United Press International (10/27/93) Bangkok--Four Asian countries added their names to the United Nations' International Drug Control Program to combat illegal drug production and trafficking in the "Golden Triangle" area of Southeast Asia. China, Laos, Burma, and Thailand on Wednesday signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" agreement designed to strengthen cooperation in fighting illicit substances. It also provides for high-level consultations between the four governments and the UNDCP about the regional problems linked to illegal drug production, trafficking, abuse, and HIV infection caused by injecting drug use. There has been some progress in reducing opium production in Laos and Thailand and blocking heroin trafficking from the Golden Triangle to China, said the four nations in a statement. Sub regional countries, however, "have also experienced increasingly serious drug abuse problems, particularly among poor disadvantaged groups, and the intravenous use of heroin has been contributing to the spread of the HIV-AIDS infection," the statement reported. "ISIS Files for Antisense Drug to Treat CMV Infections That Cause Blindness in AIDS Patients" PR Newswire (10/27/93) Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. has, for the second time, filed an investigational new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for the use of an antisense drug for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. CMV retinitis is an opportunistic viral infection that occurs in up to 46 percent of people with AIDS and often causes blindness. Current therapies for CMV retinitis delay the progression of the infection for only a short while before the disease progresses and often cause side effects that render the treatment incompatible with patients. ISIS 2922, a highly sensitive antisense compound, prevents the production of a protein essential for HIV replication, and has been shown in vitro to work against strains of the virus that are resistant to current therapies. Also, ISIS 2922 may have fewer side effects. Monkey experiments indicate that the drug can be safely administered by intravitreal injection on a weekly or biweekly schedule. "The Immune Response Corporation Receives U.S. Patent on HIV Technology" PR Newswire (10/27/93) Carlsbad, Calif.--The Immune Response Corporation has received a U.S. patent relating to its HIV immunotherapeutic product, which is designed to boost the immune system of HIV-infected individuals and thereby allow the body's normal defense mechanism to control the virus. A Phase II/III clinical trial of the product has been completed in conjunction with Rhone Poulenc-Rorer Inc. Titled "Retroviral Antigens," the patent names Drs. Jonas Salk and Dennis J. Carlo as inventors "IDC's Virotech Unit Secures Favorable Test Results With Anti-HIV Drug" PR Newswire (10/27/93) Minneapolis--Virotech, Inc., a subsidiary of IDC Holdings, Ltd., announced that one of its anti-HIV compounds achieved significant viral reduction at low concentrations with negligible toxicity to healthy cells. Virotech scientists initially theorized that the compound would inhibit viral activity within the form of the body's own defense cells known as macrophages. When tested independently for HIV, however, researchers discovered that this new drug was active not only against macrophages, but against lymphocytes as well. Richard D. Rotondo, vice president of research for Virotech, said that he is unaware of another drug that accomplishes that feat. Rotondo also offered Virotech's speculations as to how the drug works. "One theory is that this compound inhibits viral activity by altering the structural replication process of the HIV virus. It may be that, in the process of viral replication, this drug binds to one or more HIV viral-specific enzymes throughout the life cycle of the virus. Accordingly, the enzymes necessary for replication are rendered inactive," he explained. "Several other theoretical modes of action could also be possible, including prophylactic effects with binding on the cell surface that inhibits the binding and inclusion of the viral particle." "American Red Cross Selects Ortho-Chiron Joint Business as Major Supplier for Blood Screening Tests" Business Wire (10/27/93) Emeryville, Calif.--The American Red Cross has signed a contract to purchase several mandated blood virus ELISA screening tests exclusively from the joint immunodiagnostic business of Chiron Corp. and Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc. For a three-year period beginning March 1, 1994, the Red Cross will buy four or five ELISA tests to screen for hepatitis B and C, and for HIV. The nation's largest collector of donated whole blood, the American Red Cross collects close to one-half of the units of whole blood donated annually in the United States. Screening tests that indicate the presence of hepatitis and AIDS infectious agents have dramatically improved the safety of the country's blood supply. "Diagnostik Purchases HIV/AIDS Specialty Pharmacy Company" PR Newswire (10/27/93) Albuquerque, N.M.--Diagnostik, Inc. has announced the $9 million acquisition of Chronitech Health Services, Inc., which provides specialty pharmacy, homecare medication, and infusion services to the HIV/AIDS market. "This acquisition enables Diagnostik to respond quickly to the growing need for quality, reliable specialized pharmacy services," said Nunzio DeSantis, chairman and CEO of Diagnostik. "The prescription market for HIV and AIDS is largely unmanaged. We'll coordinate pharmacy care in accordance with our managed care philosophy, emphasizing choice, clinical pharmacy expertise, and comprehensive information management." The RxChoice program, a point-of-service medical drug program that allows patients to fill prescriptions at a national preferred retail pharmacy network, will also benefit AIDS patients. "Prescription drug bills for AIDS patients are staggering, often exceeding $10,000 per person annually," says DeSantis. "Our RxChoice prescription program offers affordable, accessible pharmacy care, with a premium on service and quality. We're extremely pleased to be able to extend our help to those people suffering from HIV and AIDS. Diagnostik also offers a state-of-the-art mail service for patients to fill maintenance prescriptions, a key benefit for long-term AIDS-related drug therapies. "Northwest Philadelphia AIDS Prevention Program to Hold Kick-Off Event; Temple University's Full Circle Theater to Be Featured" PR Newswire (10/25/93) "Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands," a new AIDS education and prevention program for residents of Northwest Philadelphia, will present a special performance featuring Temple University's Full Circle Theater to launch the campaign. "Take It Into The Palms Of Your Hands" is a community intervention project that aims to lower the risk of HIV infection in the community by using peer education, workshops, and improvisational theater to create a forum between teens, adults, and older adults. A joint effort between community leaders, agency representatives, and Northwest Philadelphia teenagers, the project is funded by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and managed by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation. The kick-off event will be held the evening of Friday, Oct. 29, and will be followed by discussion about communication between adults and adolescents. "Infant AIDS Prevention Study Finally Gets Going" Journal of American Medical Association (10/20/93) Vol. 270, No. 15, P. 1785 (Cotton, Paul) After a year-long delay, HIV immunoglobulin (HIVIG), which may prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus from pregnant mothers to their infants, will finally be tested in a clinical trial. Researchers hope that HIVIG, which contains antibodies to HIV, will work much in the same way as do similar products with antibodies that prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B or cytomegalovirus. The trial, initially scheduled for July 1992, was delayed when HIVIG supplier Abbott Laboratories backed out in fear of legal liability should the product increase the risk of infecting infants. Many claim that fear is unfounded because, although the product is made from patients who are HIV-positive, rigorous measures are taken to inactivate the virus. A new manufacturer is now supplying HIVIG for the trial, which is being sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Recruitment, however, must start over because the women who were to enter the trial in 1992 have since given birth, said Elaine M. Sloand, assistant to the director of NHLBI. "Punctures in Surgical Gloves" Lancet (Great Britain) (10/16/93) Vol. 342, No. 8877, P. 984 (Lane, T. Vaughan et al.) The practice of "double gloving" among orthopedic surgeons serves a dual purpose, according to Lane et al. Surgeons are concerned about infection risks for the patient and, at the same time, double gloves provide added protection for the staff should one glove be punctured. Wearing extra gloves effectively reduces the perforation rate in the inner glove. A simple method for detecting punctured gloves is to wear colored inner gloves to visualize the ingress of blood or body fluids. If a puncture is identified, the surgeon can then take the necessary precautions. Lane et al. tested a prototype colored glove worn beneath a standard one. After being used during 25 orthopedic operations in which 148 outer gloves were used by three surgeons, all gloves were examined by water pressure for punctures. Twenty-nine punctures were discovered, 23 of which were noticed by the surgeon during the medical procedure. Lane et al. conclude that the inner glove is helpful to surgeons in identifying punctures and indicating when it is necessary to change gloves.