Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 11:43:03 +0500 From: ghmcleaf{CONTRACTOR/ASPEN/ghmcleaf}%NAC-GATEWAY.ASPEN@ace.aspensys.com Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary 06/12/95 AIDS Daily Summary June 12, 1995 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 1995, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ************************************************************ "UNICEF Asks Broader Aid for Children" "Indonesia Bans Thai Fishermen over AIDS Fears" "Love, Philippines-Style, Conquors AIDS" "Council Gives Corporate Conscience Awards" "Genetics Institute Suspends Phase 2 Study of rhIL-12" "FDA Advises Advanced Viral Research Corp. that Reticulose IND for HIV (AIDS) Is Placed on Inactive Status" "Protection by Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in Macaques Against Challenge with Virus-Infected Cells" "Top Aide to Face Charges in French HIV Blood Scandal" "Itraconazole for Mild Histoplasmosis" "California: New Drugs Added to AIDS Drug Assistance Program" ************************************************************ "UNICEF Asks Broader Aid for Children" New York Times (06/12/95) P. A5; Crossette, Barbara According to a recent study by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United States is now the lowest among 21 industrial countries in the amount of foreign aid it gives in relation to its gross national product. In general, there has been a reduction in foreign aid, which comes at a time when UNICEF is urging all countries to look at the situation of children in the broadest sense. "The child has to be seen in the broader context of the community," explains UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy. Among its recommendations, the report calls for campaigns to fight vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition, and to end the social abuses of children that weaken them and threaten their lives. In addition to pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and measles, AIDS is also a threat to children. Approximately 1 million children are infected with HIV, many of them in Africa and Asia. Bellamy says the reduction of aid was most unfortunate for the poorest countries where children are most likely to live in the worst conditions. "Indonesia Bans Thai Fishermen over AIDS Fears" Reuters (06/12/95) As an AIDS prevention measure, Indonesia has prohibited 21 Thai fishermen from coming ashore after they were detained for illegal fishing, the official Antara newsagency said. The move came after another Thai fishermen, who was caught fishing illegally in the same waters, died of AIDS while in detention. The 21 men, who had caught about two tons of fish, were intercepted by a police patrol boat last week, and have been taken to Pangkal Pinang pending further investigation. "Love, Philippines-Style, Conquors AIDS" Reuters (06/11/95) An HIV-positive Filipina woman is engaged to a man who has vowed to die with her, a news service reported on Sunday. Liza Enriquez, who is one of more than 600 HIV-infected people in the Philippines, said that the man told her he would "gladly suffer the consequences out his love for [her]." The Philippine health department has engaged the woman's services in a campaign to educate Filipinos about the dangers of unsafe sex. Enriquez is believed to have contracted HIV from her late husband, who died two years ago. "Council Gives Corporate Conscience Awards" Reuters (06/09/95) Colgate-Palmolive Co., Polaroid Corp., and Coca-Cola Co. are among the recipients of the Council on Economic Priorities' Corporate Conscience awards, the public service research organization announced on Friday. The council, which publishes "Shopping for a Better World," evaluated the social and environmental records of corporations. Polaroid, for example, was awarded for its responsiveness to employees. The company has implemented one of the most comprehensive AIDS education and prevention plans in the nation and has a non-discrimination policy that requires HIV-infected people to receive the same health benefits as other employees. Other winners include New England Electric System--the holding company for eight electric utilities--which was recognized because it invited the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston to work with the company on new environmental efforts and Merck--the world's largest pharmaceutical company--which was honored for its global ethics. "Genetics Institute Suspends Phase 2 Study of rhIL-12" PR Newswire (06/09/95) On Friday, Genetics Institute, Inc. announced that it has suspended a Phase II clinical trial of recombinant human interleukin-12 (rhIL-12) due to reports that several patients had to be hospitalized after taking the experimental drug. The Phase II study for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer was undertaken in part on the basis of Phase I dosing studies of the drug in oncology and HIV. In those studies, rhIL-12 was well-tolerated over a wide range of biologically active doses. The Phase II study, however, used a different dosing schedule and dosage form than the Phase I studies. A total of 10 patients have been hospitalized and one has died. The company has notified the Food and Drug Administration of the suspension, and is conducting an investigation which will help determine the extent to which these events may have been caused by rhIL-12. "FDA Advises Advanced Viral Research Corp. that Reticulose IND for HIV (AIDS) Is Placed on Inactive Status" Business Wire (06/09/95) Advanced Viral Research Corp. reported on Friday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Reticulose for the treatment of HIV on inactive status until the company provides an adequate response to the FDA's previous request for certain preclinical data. The company is now examining the requirements to have the active status on its IND reinstated. "Protection by Attenuated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus in Macaques Against Challenge with Virus-Infected Cells" Lancet (05/27/95) Vol. 345, No. 8961, P. 1342; Almond, N.; Kent, K.; Cranage, M. et al. Almond et al. of England's National Institute for Biological Standards and Control tried to determine if different attenuated, or weakened, strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) could protect against pathogenic isolates, and if such protection would be effective against cell-associated and cell-free virus challenge. In the study, eight cynomolgus macaques were vaccinated with attenuated cell-free and cell-associated SIV. These eight were protected, while the eight controls became infected after the challenge. According to the researchers, the results demonstrate that a live-attenuated vaccine can offer protection from SIV in macaques. For use in humans, however, this method will require an extensive study of the safety of human retroviruses. Alternatively, the mechanism of this protection must be understood and reproduced in a less hazardous fashion. "Top Aide to Face Charges in French HIV Blood Scandal" Nature (06/01/95) Vol. 375, No. 6530, P. 349; Tastemain, Catherine The recent decision to charge Renault head Louis Schweitzer with "complicity in poisoning" has renewed France's HIV-tainted blood scandal. Schweitzer was in charge of the private office of Laurent Fabius, who was prime minister when the affair took place in 1985. Similar charges have also been brought against Patrick Baudry, former adviser to Georgina Dufoix--who was minister of social affairs in 1985. The actions follow French legal authorities' decision to pursue former ministers and their staff for involvement in the alleged decision to delay the screening of donated blood for HIV in 1985. Many people, however, are shocked at the decision to take legal action based on allegations of "poisoning"--including some who lodged the initial complaints. Many believe that under French law, poisoning should include both direct "administration" of lethal substances and proof of a deliberate attempt on the life of a victim. "Itraconazole for Mild Histoplasmosis" AIDS Clinical Care (06/95) Vol. 7, No. 6, P. 51 In an uncontrolled study of 59 AIDS patients, researchers found that oral itraconazole can be an effective alternative to the toxic and expensive amphotericin B for the treatment of mild histoplasmosis. Compared to the historical controls given for amphotericin B, the rate of clinical response with clearance of positive cultures was 85 percent for itraconazole. Although fungemia cleared quickly with itraconazole, resolution of fever and clearance of antigen were slower compared to amphotericin B. The researchers concluded that itraconazole is safe and effective induction therapy for mild histoplasmosis, but that it may be better to continue using amphotericin initially, especially in patients with any of the risk factors associated with itraconazole failure. "California: New Drugs Added to AIDS Drug Assistance Program" AIDS Treatment News (05/19/95) P. 8 In March 1995, 18 new drugs were added to the California AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The new drugs include acyclovir, clarithromycin, ddI, fluconazole, rifabutin, and stavudine. Persons infected with HIV and living on moderate incomes can be partially or fully reimbursed for these drugs. Funding is provided under the federal Ryan White Title II program.