Texas Tech Cures the AIDS?

[Mr. Football]

So says Newsweek: Texas Tech in partnership with Harvard has cured the AIDS. www.newsweek.com/id/151217

 

[DeadHeadHorn]

"As soon as there's a one-shot, cure-all for AIDS...there's gonna be fuckin' in the streets, man. 'No, it's over. Yeah, it's over. Come here!'"

 

[Fried JJ Pickles]

That won't help their student body near as much as curing herpes.

 

[Anastasis]

This is cool as ****. It sounds like it is really the delivery method that is the advance here, using an antibody specific to a protein only found on T-cells to deliver the goods. The science behind infecting the mice with HIV is pretty fascinating as well.

Uninformed might be able to answer a question that was raised from a brief browsing of the article:

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Uninformed]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[NEWDOC2002]

Don't jump the shark.

If you would have reported that Tech had invented a tortilla that flew 75 yards in a straight line, that I believe, would realistically come to market very soon.

 

[Anastasis]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Uninformed]

I read the newsweek article and the only place where I saw the use of stem cells was in the making of a mouse with a human immune system. To accomplish this, they would have to violate patents or simply purchase the mouse from Abgenix or Japan Tobacco's biotech subsidiary. Maybe those companies wanted too much in return or Texas Tech has rights through the NIH. If the rights came from the NIH then any product could not be sold commercially without first doing a deal with Abgenix. In any case, again there are no ethical concerns, IMO, because the mouse development isn't novel. In other words, whatever ethical concerns exist were dealt with 10 years ago when Abgenix and Japan Tobacco first developed the technology.

As far as the technology itself, I don't think it will work. Delivery through use of monoclonals is problematic. I don't think all T4 cells could be reached with a monoclonal. There are some areas of the body that would remain "sinks" for the virus. IMO, the only application where the technology would work is prophylaxis after a needle stick or as an addition to the HAART regimen. There isn't a big market for these applications.

Another issue is that the researchers used 3 different siRNAs. Each siRNA would probably have to be tested to prove safety. It, IMO, is similar to having three different drugs combined into a single drug and sold. This is NEVER done for new products in development and only occurs after the individual drugs are already on the market. It is too expensive and risky to test 3 new drugs at once. Perhaps, the FDA would make an exception, but I don't see why that would occur.

Disclaimer: This is my off-the-cuff answer. Obviously, research would have to be conducted to prove me right or wrong.