                     AIDS Daily Summary 
                     September 07, 1994

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS
Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public
service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement
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Copyright 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD

"U.S. AIDS Research Switches Focus to Boost Immune System"
Washington Times (09/07/94) P. A6;  Krieger, Lisa M.
     The federal government has promised to allocate $25 million over 
the next four years for the development of innovative strategies 
to genetically attack HIV through the body's immune system.  The 
studies will be conducted at medical centers selected by the 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease--including 
Stanford Medical Center, the New England Medical Center, the 
University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the Fred 
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the University of 
California at San Diego.  The studies involve the transplant of 
healthy dendritic cells from patients' siblings to boost the 
immune system, and the introduction of immune system cells called
"killer cells" that destroy HIV-infected cells.  Both studies are
risky, according to Edgar Engleman, a co-director of research at 
Stanford, who says, "Anything that activates the immune system is
capable of activating the virus, as well."
      
"Liposome Seeks Approval of its AIDS-Cancer Drug"
Wall Street Journal (09/07/94) P. A6
     Liposome Technology Inc. has filed a new drug application with 
the FDA for its version of a medication for Kaposi's sarcoma, an 
AIDS-related cancer, for patients who do not respond to 
chemotherapy.  The active ingredient, doxorubicin hydrochloride, 
is already widely available, but the company wants to deliver it 
with its "Stealth" liposome capsule system.  This system allows 
the drug to stay in the bloodstream for at least two days.  
Liposome expects an answer from the FDA in six to nine months.
      
"In the Nation: Los Angeles Mayor Aids Needle Exchange Programs"
Baltimore Sun (09/07/94) P. 11A
     Stating that AIDS had reached epidemic proportions, Los Angeles 
Mayor Richard Riordan declared a local state of emergency Tuesday
in an effort to circumvent state law and permit the distribution 
of clean needles to drug users to continue without interference 
from police.  Riordan directed the city attorney and police 
department to avoid unnecessary investigations of the needle 
exchanges that have been taking place throughout the city for 
several years.  "With his signing this declaration, the mayor 
acknowledged [through the signing of the declaration] the needs 
of IV drug users, their sexual partners, and their families," 
said Rene Edgington, who operated Los Angeles' Clean Needles Now.
Needle exchanges as a means of lowering AIDS transmissions have 
been gained the approval of many city officials.
      
"BC-AIDS-Zimbabwe"
Reuters (09/06/94);  Mdlongwa, Francis
     AIDS has killed thousands and infected nearly one million 
Zimbabweans, making it what one doctor has called "a threat to 
mankind greater than the bubonic plague."  Condoms have become 
the highest-selling product in the country because of AIDS, but 
the disease has also prompted some bizarre changes.  Insurance 
companies are now offering policies that allow clients to pay for
coffins and church services in advance; coffin-makers and 
gravediggers are said to be making their fortune off of the 
epidemic.  "The only problem is that the same people making this 
money may not live long to spend it, also for the same reason," 
said a local journalist.    "Whole populations, entire labor 
forces--indeed economies of nations--are threatened," agreed the 
doctor.
      
"Measurement of CD4: Percentage"
Journal of the American Medical Association (08/10/94) Vol. 272, 
No. 6, P. 434;  Olson, Patrick E.;  Wallace, Mark R.;  Naval 
Medical Center (et al.)
     Dr. Paul A. Volberding recently described the discovery of a 
stronger correlation between clinical stage and CD4 percentage 
than between clinical stage and absolute CD4 cell count.  
Volberding suggests that CD4 percentage is a more stable marker 
of progression.  Many clinicians are not aware that the process 
of derivation of absolute CD4 cell count from CD4 percentage is a
long, painstaking effort that involves redundant steps.  The U.S.
health care system could save several million dollars annually by
ending the practice of reporting total CD4 cell counts, contend 
Drs. Patrick Olson and Mark Wallace of Naval Medical Center in 
San Diego, Calif.  Counting CD4 cells has become a clinical habit
that results in little or no useful information, they argue.  
They conclude that this method should be rejected and the CD4 
percentage, which is more accurate and economical, should be 
adopted.
      
"Free AIDS Info"
Men's Fitness (09/94) Vol. 10, No. 9, P. 116
     Community Prescription Service, a mail-order discount drug 
business specializing in HIV concerns, offers InfoPack.  The 
quarterly newsletter provides a summary of recent medical 
studies, information on new drugs, and hints for self-care.  
Copies are available free of charge by calling 800-842-0502.
      
"Rushing to Judgment"
Barron's (08/15/94) Vol. 74, No. 33, P. 23;  Edward A. Wyatt
     Only a few years ago, AIDS activists urged the FDA to speed up 
its approval process for AIDS drugs, resulting in the loosening 
of FDA approval standards.  Some of those same activists are now 
joining physicians and drug companies in the push to do away with
the accelerated approval program.  They claim that the program 
has led to less stringent testing so that information about 
drugs' side effects and efficacy is not available.  The tests are
open to attack because they use an artificial yardstick, such as 
white blood cell count, instead of waiting to see if a drug 
actually prolongs life.  Critics argue that accelerated approval 
removes the incentive to develop break-through drugs, and 
encourages only slight improvements on drugs already on the 
market.  The FDA will convene next month to consider slowing down
the approval process--a step which would have a dramatic impact 
on companies expecting to submit new AIDS drugs for FDA approval.
Most affected would be Hoffman-La Roche, the leader in the race 
for an AIDS treatment that, if successful, could be worth 
hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales.  Smaller 
companies such as Vertex and Agouron would also suffer if the FDA
eliminates accelerated approval.  These companies have no 
products on the market and are counting on AIDS drugs, a 
situation that makes haste a matter of importance since every 
delay means greater competition.
      
"Barron's: "Do We Have Too Many Drugs for AIDS?""
AIDS Treatment News (08/19/94) No. 205, P. 4;  James, John S.
     AIDS Treatment News editor and publisher John S. James contends 
that an Aug. 15 article in Barron's, entitled "Rushing to 
Judgment," presents only one side on the debate over accelerated 
FDA approval for AIDS drugs.  James argues that the article could
be harmful for AIDS research if investors are scared away by 
hints that the FDA is going to eliminate its accelerated approval
system.  He also points out that Barron's reporter does not talk 
to any AIDS activists except the Treatment Action Group, which is
strongly opposed by many other activist groups.  In fact, James 
says, AIDS patients want a large pool of AIDS drugs to choose 
from and therefore do not support the elimination of accelerated 
approval.  In addition, many patients and their doctors are not 
even aware of the controversy.  Finally, James says that the 
Barron's article is not entirely accurate in its presentation of 
the problems facing AIDS research.  Barron's identifies the 
problem as placebos when, in fact, the problem is drug trials 
conducted to obtain results of which the researchers already feel
relatively confident.  James feels the researchers should take a 
more experimental and innovative approach.
      
"Under Surveillance: Zvonko Pavelic"
Advocate (09/06/94) No. 663, P. 18
     Zvonko Pavelic, a former police officer recruited for the defense
team of accused murderer O.J. Simpson, has filed a disability 
claim against the Los Angeles Police Department for what he says 
is AIDS-based discrimination.  Pavelic contends that when he left
the apartment in 1992, he was suffering from asthma and 
hepatitis.  The symptoms of these two conditions, he alleges, 
caused many colleagues--who thought he had AIDS--to shun him.   .
      
