A.I.D.S. Drug Still Years Away, Says Expert (Press, 17 February 1986)

A leading American expert, Dr. Paul Volberding, has indicated that a drug aimed at aiding A.I.D.S. sufferers is still several years away and will not be a cure but rather a treatment requiring lifelong administration. Speaking at Britain’s first significant A.I.D.S. conference in Newcastle, England, Dr. Volberding highlighted the challenges in creating an effective antiviral drug that possesses minimal serious side effects. He underscored that approximately 25,000 cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (A.I.D.S.) have been reported globally since the disease was first identified in the United States five years prior. At the conference, British experts discussed the demographics most affected by the disease, noting that it primarily spread among young homosexual men, haemophiliacs, and drug addicts, all of whom face unique risks due to blood contact with the virus. However, they also warned of the potential for a broader outbreak, as A.I.D.S. severely compromises the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to cancers and other infections. Dr. Volberding, who directs the A.I.D.S. clinic at San Francisco General Hospital, stated, “Our first success will come when we develop an antiviral drug. It will be several years at least before anything effective is found.” He explained that beyond a certain stage of A.I.D.S., the body’s immune defences might be irreparably damaged, meaning that while no drug will eliminate the infection, a treatment regimen would be necessary to inhibit the virus HTLV-3 from replicating within the body. One of the challenges cited in developing an effective treatment was the historical difficulty in achieving success with antiviral drugs; for instance, science has yet to determine an effective antiviral for influenza. Dr. Volberding emphasised that patients are unlikely to take medication that induces unpleasant side effects, particularly if they do not feel unwell. He advocated for the necessity of a drug that has no cumulative side effects over time, as it would need to be taken indefinitely. "I think compliance could be a terrific problem," he remarked. In recent discussions, two doctors from the United States projected that anywhere between 100,000 and one million Americans could potentially develop A.I.D.S.-related brain disorders in the next 15 years, highlighting the ongoing urgency of addressing this public health crisis as research continues into effective treatments and preventative measures.

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