Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 18:55:33 -0400 From: "Vaux, Lenore" Subject: CDC AIDS Daily Summary AIDS Daily Summary October 17, 1996 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 National AIDS Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1996, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD ****************************************************** "Antibody May Resist AIDS Virus" "Dentists Must Treat AIDS Patients" "Report: HIV-Infected Boxer Returning to Ring" "Biochamp: BioChem Pharma Hits Mark With Its Anti-AIDS Drug 3TC" "China Facing 'Last Chance' to Combat HIV Infection" "Across the USA: Missouri" "AIDS Conference Provides 'Kick Into Reality'" "Small Stock Focus: Whoa! Novatek!" "HIV Vaccines: Where We Are and Where We Are Going" "Exposure Not Basis for Emotional Damages" ****************************************************** "Antibody May Resist AIDS Virus" New York Times (10/17/96) P. A18 An antibody commonly used by the body to ward off the flu and other invaders may offer some protection from HIV infection, researchers report. Dr. Jonathan Braun, of the University of California at Los Angeles, and colleagues found that a group of homosexual men with low levels of the VH3 antibody were very susceptible to HIV infection through sexual contact. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, also showed that the number of sexual partners the men had did not effect their risk for infection, noting that some had only one sexual encounter. Further research will try to determine if it is possible, or useful, to raise VH3 antibody levels in individuals at risk for AIDS. "Dentists Must Treat AIDS Patients" New York Times (10/17/96) P. A26 The New York Court of Appeals' recent ruling that prohibits discrimination of HIV-infected people by medical providers is applauded in a New York Times editorial. The editors also praise Gov. George Pataki for approving of the decision. The court, which was hearing two separate cases in which people claimed they had been denied dental care because they tested positive for, or were exposed to HIV, decided that private health facilities and other places that provide "conveniences and services to the public" should be considered "public accommodations" under the state's human rights law. The editors note that the right to health care is guaranteed in both the U.S. Americans With Disabilities Act and the current code of medical ethics. "Report: HIV-Infected Boxer Returning to Ring" Washington Post (10/17/96) P. C2 Tommy Morrison, the heavyweight who retired in February after testing positive for HIV, will fight in Japan next month, according to a Tokyo newspaper. The daily Asahi Shimbun reports that Morrison is scheduled to fight an undetermined opponent on Nov. 3, in an undercard for the George Foreman-Crawford Grimsley bout. However, Tony Holden, Morrison's promoter, said the decision to participate in the fight has not been made, though "there's talk of it." The Japanese Boxing Commission has not yet established any rules for HIV-positive boxers. "Biochamp: BioChem Pharma Hits Mark With Its Anti-AIDS Drug 3TC" Investor's Business Daily (10/17/96) P. A6; Benko, Laura B. The anti-AIDS drug 3TC, made by BioChem Pharma of Laval, Quebec, is expected to raise up to $297 million by the end of the year, becoming the best-performing biotech drug ever in terms of first-year sales. Moreover, sales of 3TC have surpassed those of AZT, the former leading AIDS drug. 3TC has been approved for use in Europe and is expected to achieve similar sales there. Sold by Glaxo as Epivir, 3TC can only be used with other AIDS drugs, including AZT and d4T, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb. "China Facing 'Last Chance' to Combat HIV Infection" Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/17/96) P. A4 China's health minister Chen Minzhang warned on Wednesday that to control the spread of AIDS, drug abuse, prostitution, and ignorance must be combated immediately. Chen attributed the increase in HIV infections in China to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, illegal blood banks, a large migrant population, as well as high rates of AIDS in neighboring countries. "Now is the time for prevention and control of HIV infection--it could be the last chance," Chen said. "Across the USA: Missouri" USA Today (10/17/96) P. 8A In Columbia, Missouri, police report that a 31-year-old man was charged with knowingly giving HIV-infected blood plasma at a donor center. "AIDS Conference Provides 'Kick Into Reality'" Baltimore Sun (10/17/96) P. 3B; Reinhard, Beth An annual AIDS conference for teen-agers was held Wednesday at Towson State University in Maryland, bringing the AIDS message to 250 area youths. The Baltimore County Health Department sponsored the fourth annual Stopping AIDS For Everyone (SAFE) forum, which included workshops on AIDS prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, safe sex, and HIV testing. The teens were encouraged to educate their peers about AIDS, by creating or participating in SAFE clubs at their schools. "Small Stock Focus: Whoa! Novatek!" Wall Street Journal (10/16/96) P. C7; Lohse, Deborah Trading of Novatek International securities has been suspended for 10 business days by the Securities and Exchange Commission for reasons involving questionable contracts, licenses, and financial condition. Novatek sells diagnostic tests for HIV and other diseases. Barron's recently published an investigative article that cast doubt on the validity of many of Novatek's claims and highlighted the disciplinary history of certain figures involved in the company. The trading halt started Tuesday and is scheduled to end on Oct. 28. "HIV Vaccines: Where We Are and Where We Are Going" Lancet (10/05/96) Vol. 348, No. 9032, P. 933; Haynes, Barton F. Research has led to a better understanding of HIV and AIDS, however important questions related to vaccine development persist. In a series on HIV in the journal Lancet, Dr. Barton F. Haynes, of the Duke University AIDS Center, identifies key areas of vaccine research. He explains that, if protective anti-HIV immune responses could be induced by an immunogen in an uninfected individual, early termination of the virus could offer protection from disease. Although HIV varies widely and can mutate rapidly, Haynes suggests that for vaccine development, the degree of variation that must be considered could be low since the viruses isolated early in infection are relatively homogeneous. So far, the most promising results in retrovirus protection have been observed by immunizing rhesus monkeys with nef-deleted attenuated live SIV strains. The development of live-attenuated vaccines for humans is controversial, however, because other studies have suggested that HIV may be oncogenic. A human leukocyte antigen-based vaccine is therefore more attractive, Haynes explains, pointing out that the data to develop such vaccines is now becoming available. "Exposure Not Basis for Emotional Damages" American Medical News (10/07/96) Vol. 39, No. 37, P. 20 A woman who learned that her gynecologist had AIDS was denied her claim to emotional damages by the Supreme Court of Minnesota. The patient, who knew the doctor had dermatitis when he treated her but only found out after that he had AIDS, sued for emotional distress. Fifty other former patients brought actions against the doctor at the same time. The court affirmed summary judgment for the physician, who died in 1991. The doctor took the proper precaution of wearing gloves while treating patients, the court said, making the risk of transmission very small.