CRIA Update
Table of Contents, Fall 2000

HIV Research: Directions After Durban

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been successful for many people, at least in the short-term, highlighting the immune system's amazing ability to restore itself. HAART's limitations are also clear, however, both in terms of long-term side effects and the seeming impossibility of making antiviral drugs accessible to the millions of people living with HIV worldwide. The 13 th International Conference on AIDS in Durban, South Africa cast a long-overdue spotlight on the disparities between the availability of HIV treatment for people in developing countries compared to those in North America and Western Europe. It also brings into sharper focus the urgent need to re-search and develop strategies that boost the immune system's ability to suppress HIV replication.

Our regular feature, "Drugs in Development," provides a look at the data on the most recently approved protease inhibitor and another in the pipeline. Finally, to start the issue off, our very own Dr. Jerome Ernst, CRIA's medical director, shares his insights after attending the Durban conference.