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August 20, 2010

U of M researchers identify two FDA approved drugs that may fight HIV

University of Minnesota: "The two drugs, decitabine and gemcitabine – both FDA approved and currently used in pre-cancer and cancer therapy – were found to eliminate HIV infection in the mouse model by causing the virus to mutate itself to death – an outcome researchers dubbed 'lethal mutagenesis.'"

"This is a landmark finding in HIV research because it is the first time this novel approach has been used to attack the deadly virus without causing toxic side effects. Because decitabine and gemcitabine are already FDA approved, researchers believe that if their research is effective in large animal models, it will be much easier to expedite the development of the drugs for human use."

Journal of Virology abstract: http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/18/9301

Comment: This mechanism seems to be similar to that proposed by Koronis Pharmaceuticals, whose experimental treatment KP-1461 (prodrug to KP-1212) has been reformulated for new clinical trials.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking you guys are either thinking too hard and can't find the simple solution, or you are purposely trying to hide the real one by inventing fake cures. Your body can adapt to anything right? So what's the thing keeping it adapt to HIV? It's too strong, it doesn't have time for the body to realize what it is and make antibodies to destroy it. Assuming we can make almost anything analogical in a laboratory, why don't you modify the R.N.A. to make a weaker HIV similar virus so that the body has time to adapt to it... Not sure what good I did in telling you this, probably you knew it and it shouldn't be out there, but who's gonna listen to a comment blog anyway... Take care, yours Geve