Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 09:09:00 -0400 (EDT) From: "JOHN FANNING, CDC NAC" AIDS Daily Summary October 28, 1994 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 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ************************************************************ "Lifeline: AIDS Model" "Bad Blood Donors Can't Be Identified" "Benetton's Condom-Monium" "Biomune Systems Inc. Announces Preliminary Results of Phase I Clinical Trials" "Immunomedics Reports Clinical Results on Potential Imaging Agent for Infection in AIDS Patients" "Ribi Science Update: Ribi's MPL in Liposomes Superior as AIDS Vaccine Adjuvant, According to Preliminary Comparative Human Clinical Study Data" "Grace's Agracetus Unit Awarded $2 Million by U.S. Army to Develop HIV Vaccine; Initiates Plans for a Malaria Vaccine" "Red Cross Wins Better Business Bureau Award for AIDS Education; Its Third BBB Honor in Five Years" "Viral Load Measurement" "AIDS and Nutrition: Clarification, Additional Resources" ************************************************************ "Lifeline: AIDS Model" USA Today (10/28/94) P. 1D; Vigoda, Arlene Baboons infected with HIV appear to develop the same symptoms as humans, report researchers in Science magazine. Although animal activists protest the baboons' suffering, Dr. Jay Levy of the University of California at San Francisco says that the animals are making new investigations of AIDS vaccines and treatments possible. "Bad Blood Donors Can't Be Identified" Toronto Globe and Mail (10/27/94) P. A10; Claridge, Thomas A temporary injunction has been placed to prevent the Canadian Red Cross from disclosing to public health authorities the identities of donors of HIV-infected blood now being tested after 10 years in cold storage. The Canadian AIDS Society requested the order. The Ontario Court's General Division will start hearing arguments next Monday on whether the ban should become permanent. The principal issue involved is whether a donor's normal right to refuse testing should invalidate Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act's requirement that laboratories report any tests that indicate the presence of communicable diseases and provide the names and addresses of the infected persons. Testing is being done of 175,000 blood samples taken from donors between 1984 and 1985. Donors at the time were told that there was no available HIV test, but the blood samples were apparently stored in connection with research work on hepatitis. Douglas Elliott, the lawyer representing the Canadian AIDS Society, said that the organization does not object to testing or advising recipients of HIV-infected blood that they are at risk. Without the temporary ban, however, some infected but healthy donors could learn through "a knock on the door" about the testing without their knowledge or permission. "Benetton's Condom-Monium" Toronto Globe and Mail (10/27/94) P. D6; French, Serena A fashion show of the fall 1994 collection at local United Colors of Benetton stores was held last Wednesday night to benefit the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CanFAR). Eight Toronto-area Benetton store owners decided to put on the show after receiving the fall issue of Benetton's quarterly international magazine, Colors. This issue is completely devoted to AIDS. It includes graphic pictorials of how HIV is transmitted and of safe-sex alternatives to intercourse. Colors presents a mock obituary of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan accompanied by a digitally altered head shot of Reagan made to look as though his face is covered with Kaposi's sarcoma lesions. "It's been said we're exploiting world issues," said Nadia Iafrate, one of the Toronto Benetton owners. "But we're just using our name to try and bring international awareness to these issues. So the magazine is reinforcing this intention." The fashion show raised $12,500 from door sales alone. All of its proceeds, as well as the proceeds from the AIDS issue of Colors, will benefit CanFAR. "Biomune Systems Inc. Announces Preliminary Results of Phase I Clinical Trials" Business Wire (10/27/94) Preliminary Phase I trials of IMMUNO-C--a bovine antibody-based biologic drug in development for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis--were successful, Biomune Systems Inc. announced Thursday. "We have administered IMMUNO-C to 41 healthy, HIV negative volunteers, and at this point our analysis is that the product is safe, said principal investigator Dr. Craig Moffat. "The dosage determined by Phase I is particularly important because it will be used in Phase II clinical trials to treat people with AIDS who are infected with cryptosporidium." The results support similar data from previous independent in vivo animal studies. Phase II studies will attempt to prove human efficacy of IMMUNO-C. "Immunomedics Reports Clinical Results on Potential Imaging Agent for Infection in AIDS Patients" Business Wire (10/27/94) Further pilot clinical results of Immunomedic Inc.'s new nuclear imaging agent for Pneumocystis infection in immunocompromised patients were announced at the 6th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology in Sydney, Australia. With an 85.7 percent accuracy rate, the imaging agent diagnosed Pneumocystis infection in the lungs of 22 AIDS patients. Dr. David M. Goldenberg, chairman of Immunomedic, explained that, "After injecting a small dose of this agent, the patients are imaged with a conventional nuclear camera within 24 hours, thus providing relatively quick results in a noninvasive manner." Pneumocystis infection is one of the major causes of death in AIDS patients. "Ribi Science Update: Ribi's MPL in Liposomes Superior as AIDS Vaccine Adjuvant, According to Preliminary Comparative Human Clinical Study Data" PR Newswire (10/26/94) Data from a Phase I study conducted by the AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was presented on Wednesday at the 2nd International Conference on Mucosal Immunization, Genetic Approaches and Adjuvants. It showed that Ribi ImmunoChem's MPL immunomodulator formulated in liposomes was more effective as an adjuvant for an AIDS vaccine than other adjuvants. Ribi has licensed MPL to SmithKline Beecham for use in vaccines against herpes, hepatitis, influenza, and Lyme disease, and to both SmithKline and American Cyanamid for use against DPT, Hib meningitis, and streptococcal infection. Robert E. Ivy, chief executive, president, and chairman of Ribi, said that his company was "gratified by human data further supporting MPL as an adjuvant of importance in developing infectious disease vaccines." "Grace's Agracetus Unit Awarded $2 Million by U.S. Army to Develop HIV Vaccine; Initiates Plans for a Malaria Vaccine" PR Newswire (10/26/94) The Army Medical Research and Development Command awarded Agracetus, Inc., a subsidiary of W. R. Grace & Co., a $2 million, four-year grant to develop a DNA-based vaccine for HIV. Separately, The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research also entered an exclusive Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Agracetus. The collaboration will pursue a genetic vaccine for malaria. Both agreements will use Agracetus' Accell gene gun technology, which uses compressed gas to propel microscopic gold particles full of DNA directly into an individual's skin. "We are very excited about these agreements," said Dr. Ken Barton, vice president of research and development at Argracetus. " ...There is a clear need for new vaccine strategies against HIV and malaria, and we now have the scientific and financial support of the U.S. Army to facilitate our attack on both of these globally devastating afflictions." "Red Cross Wins Better Business Bureau Award for AIDS Education; Its Third BBB Honor in Five Years" PR Newswire (10/26/94) The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania's has been awarded the "1994 Best Service Introduction Award" by the Better Business Bureau for its excellence in AIDS education and prevention. Introduced in 1993, the "AIDS Home Care" course helps people learn the skills and confidence they need to care for a loved one with AIDS. More than 900 people have taken the 14-hour course, which is taught by specially trained registered nurses. One of the leading AIDS educators in the Delaware Valley, the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter reached more than 140,000 people last year with its AIDS programs and materials. "Viral Load Measurement" Advocate (10/18/94) No. 666, P. 34; Cohan, Gary R. Researchers have developed two new methods of measuring HIV's activity. Quantitative RNA-PCR is a technique under development by Roche Molecular Systems to detect very small amounts of RNA, and give a more precise estimate of how much virus is being reproduced in the body. Branched-chain DNA (bDNA) estimates viral load--the amount of virus in the body--by measuring individual strands of RNA and is being developed by Chiron Corp. One of the most important and difficult issues is how the test results will be interpreted and translated into clinical treatment decisions. Individual viral load results will probably not be very useful, but its changes over time may give a strong indication of how effective the most recent treatments are. "AIDS and Nutrition: Clarification, Additional Resources" AIDS Treatment News (10/07/94) No. 208, P. 4; Tobias, Tadd There is a vast difference between the definitions of "nutritionist" and "registered dietitian." Confusion is easy because many registered dietitians call themselves the more "user friendly" term of "nutritionist" when in community or outpatient settings. Almost anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, however, and he or she may not have the education and training to provide accurate information. Persons with HIV seeking nutritional information should be careful to speak with a registered dietitian with experience with HIV and AIDS. Patients may request that the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for The American Dietetic Association, verify a practitioner's credentials. "Dietitians in HIV Practice" and Project Open Hand--both in the San Francisco Bay area--and the National HIV-Nutrition Team all provide nutritional services for persons living with HIV/AIDS.