Vaccine Failure Means Setback in AIDS Fight

FOXNews.com ^ | Friday, March 21, 2008 | FOXNews.com

[metmom]

The two-decade search for an AIDS vaccine is in crisis after two field tests of the most promising contender not only did not protect people from the virus but may actually have put them at increased risk of becoming infected, The Washington Post reported.

Experts are questioning the overall strategy and scientific premises of the nearly $500 million in AIDS vaccine research funded annually by the government after the two field tests were halted last September and seven other trials of AIDS vaccines have either been stopped or put off indefinitely.

The recently closed studies, STEP and Phambili, were halted when it became clear the STEP study was futile and possibly harmful.

[gidget7]

Because it is false. That’s why!

[bamahead]

If smokers and the families of smokers were on tv demanding a cure, and trying to make you feel like a vicious, unfeeling bigot for not donating enough, not caring enough, don't tell me you wouldn't suggest that people stop smoking.

Actually many of them were on TV not that many years ago....demanding that the Clinton Justice Dept. sue the pants off the tobacco companies, to punish them for their own irresponsible choices that they had made for years.

Once the fleecing started, it paved the way for individual lawsuits by smokers against big tobacco, and they now had a case too thanks to the feds. Trial lawyers had a field day with all that (and still are).

I'll withhold my moral judgement on AIDS sufferers, but the crux of this arguement isn't all that different.

[Alter Kaker]

With another man, or men

1. I don't think that's true -- unless some ridiculous percentage of the population of Southern Africa is bisexual.

2. Even if it were true, so what? Do women control who their husbands cheat on them with? Regardless of whether their husbands get HIV from prostitutes, from local floozies or from other men, they still get the disease. In the long run -- at least from the woman's perspective -- it really doesn't matter.

[Alter Kaker]

Because it is false. That’s why!

90% of lung cancer cases are not caused by smoking? Really?

Uh... you're going to need a little more than a snappy one liner if you're hoping to overturn the consensus of the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the Merck Manual, the American Medical Association and every other medical group under the sun...

[Alter Kaker]

AK, you keep talking about Africa. Where do you live? Africa?

I'm talking about Africa because that's where the vast majority of people with HIV/AIDS live. If we were talking about SARS, I'd be talking about China. If we were talking about BDS, I'd be talking about California.

[allmendream]

The elimination of Smallpox is not just the killing of the virus (by preconditioning the immune system to recognize the virus and kill it inside the body) but complete GENOCIDE by eliminating the entire lineage of the virus.

Viruscide? Genocide? Extinction?

Either way the virus was killed dead until there is none left (in the ‘wild’) to kill.

[Judith Anne]

I’m just guessing here, but I’d be willing to bet you don’t know the transmission rate of HIV from female to male, vs male to female or male to male.

In fact, I doubt you have a clue. For someone who doesn’t know the amount of money spent on HIV research vs the other MAJOR killers, doesn’t know why universal precautions are mandatory now when they weren’t 30 years ago, and who doesn’t know HIV transmission rates in varying demographics, you have a remarkably one-sided viewpoint.

[Judith Anne]

Any idea how many in the US, where all the fuss is, are living with HIV?

[Dianna]

Actually many of them were on TV not that many years ago....demanding that the Clinton Justice Dept. sue the pants off the tobacco companies, to punish them for their own irresponsible choices that they had made for years.

It wasn't conservatives cheering them on. At least they limited themselves to the companies involved and didn't try to shame John Q Public.

[Judith Anne]

And by the way, I asked for an apology from you for your rude remark to me in your post 93.

You didn’t give me one.

I have posted civilly to you, and you have refused to return the favor.

The next time I see you elsewhere on the forum, I will remember your behavior here today, and your behavior here will definitely color my assessment of your veracity.

[Alter Kaker]

Any idea how many in the US, where all the fuss is, are living with HIV?

Where all the fuss is? What are you talking about? AIDS is a relatively minor public health problem in the US. Relatively small numbers have it, and those who do benefit from anti-retroviral drug cocktails that can often drive the virus into remission.

Contrast that to Botswana, were upwards 40% of the adult population are HIV+. That's what I'm talking about, that's what I'm concerned about. There are entire nations that are being depopulated. And not because of gays in the United States.

[Guenevere]

well said!

[rottndog]

Vaccine Failure Means Setback in AIDS Fight

I guess that means going back to fighting AIDS the old fashion way (also the ONLY way that works)---Keep de peepee out 'o de poopoo.

[Alter Kaker]

I’m just guessing here, but I’d be willing to bet you don’t know the transmission rate of HIV from female to male, vs male to female or male to male.

The transmission rate depends on what kind of sex you're talking about. The transmission rate for anal sex is identical, regardless of whether it involves a woman or a man. Some sexual practices popular in southern Africa apparently also increase the rate of HIV transmission. But the abstract rate is still largely irrelevant. The hard numbers of infected people -- including numbers of infected women -- I think are far more relevant.

[Judith Anne]

Oh? Were you posting to me?

[bamahead]

It wasn't conservatives cheering them on. At least they limited themselves to the companies involved and didn't try to shame John Q Public.

No, but they still demanded resources funded by the American taxpayer to go after the tobacco co's.

They also used aspects of the shady Clinton Justice Dept. to twist laws and railroad the cases through. Much to the happiness of a large Democrat benefactor -the American Trial Lawyers Assn. Smokers were stripped of any responsibility in the matter.

Up next: Junk food producers and fast food restaurants.

[Judith Anne]

No, I’m sixty. A widowed “breeder.”

You’ve had enough tolerance from me. No more without an apology.

[tomnbeverly]

Hey Homies Bush’s fault worked so well .... We can move on to part II.... ITS ALL WHITEYS FAULT...

[Digital Sniper]

That’s not killing a virus, technically. Not in the sense I think 50sDad meant, I think, but I don’t want to put words in his mouth.

Upon revisiting 50sDad's inquiry, I believe you are right.

But to answer the question: the only way we've killed viruses is through radiation in vitro...but never in vivo.