Dear Dr. Young,

I have a couple questions about possible new treatments for HIV. Perhaps they will be under discusison years forum now in thsi forum?

1. Ampligen; in Phase III, it also has shown potential for chonic fatigue?

2. ALVAC-MN 120TMG; devloped by Aventis Pastuer, I am not sure what it is going to do but herralded as being a new class of drugs. Phase II.

3. REMUNE; described as HIV immunogen. interesting research and development history. Phase III.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks for your question. There are a number of ongoing immune based therapies under study. I'm not in any way considered to be an immunologist, but here are some updates.

You've listed some of the old guard: Ampligen has seen some initial interest as an immune modulator. It is a double-stranded RNA, thought to stimulate the immuns system. Early results caused some excitement, but a FDA-reprimand letter should give all reading press release-based reports pause: http://www.pharmcast.com/WarningLetters/July2000/Hemispherx0700.htm. I haven't personally seen recent data from the company, but studies suggest that there is immune-based activity in persons off antiretroviral therapy-- how much and how valuable remains to be seen.

ALVAC-MN120 is a vaccine-based approach from Aventis-- most recent news from this company is a collaboration with Merck to test vaccine strategies for HIV (see: http://www.aventis.com/main/page_s.asp?pageid=41490145991686957172&lang=en).

Remune development has been halted in the US, though there may be some ongoing research activity in Thailand. (See this link for details http://www.thebody.com/tpan/septoct_01/remune.html)