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Show Al2 TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION Sunday, April 27, 1997 Protease-Inhibitor Breakthrough May Be Teasing AIDS Patients — brokerage houses that buy suchpolicies from insurance com- panies and sell them back to the owner at a percentage — haye BY BOB CONDOR An even more vital question is whether the medicine can halt the CHICAGO — When Christopher first tested positive for HIV years that protease inhibitors the virusthat causes AIDS, he was in Cook County Hospitai with an advanced case of pneumonia and severe dementia. His friends and family did not expect him to live more than a few months. Christopher's landlord tossed out his work portfolio and personal be- longings, figuring him for dead rather than good on the next month's rent. That was February 1995, These days, like thousands of others with HIV/AIDS, Christopher is alive and full of hope about the future. He doesn’t look or feel sick. A new class of drugs called protease inhibitors, used in combination with moretraditional medications such as AZT and 3TC, has reduced Christopher's “viral load” to undetectable levels. His T-cell level, which indicates strength of the immunesystem response, continues to rise. Many others are hearing equally good news from their doctors. “I’m thrilled — and totally bored right now,” said Christopher, 46, who, like some others who are HIV-positive, asked that only their first namesbe used.“I want to go back to work. I want my normal life again.” But the hopefor a normallife is not so simple for people benefiting from the new drugs. Although virus for more than the three have been studied in patients — and whether they can help a person hang on long enough to enjoy further and perhaps more permanent breakthroughs. “Some people we thought would die in weeks are makingincredible recoveries,” said physician Tom Klein, a partner in one of the city’s largest private HIV/AIDS practices. “The drugs have worked better than anyone ever expected. “But the fact is, it's only been about a year that protease inhibitors have been used. We don’t know how they might perform in the long run.” Manypatients are equally opti- mistic. ‘WhenI first tested posi- questions about the protease inhibitors, which are designed to neutralize a key enzyme of the AIDS-related virus andstuntits reproduction. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rushed the newdrugsthroughthe approval process duringthe past year because early studies were encouraging, yet no researcher can attest to positive or negative long-term effects from the drugs. In addition, the drugs don't work for an estimated 15 to 40 percent ofpatients. “For the first time ever in this epidemic I am truly hopeful,” said physician Sherry Luck, medi- haveestablished their own financial assistance and education programs. They also are busy addressing the protease failure issue by developing drugs that are easier to take (one approved by the FDA in March has morerelaxed requirements) and are less susceptible to resistance. “My guess is the second-gener- ation protease inhibitors and other new drugs will add substantially to life expectancies,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, medical director of the HIV/AIDS Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Chicago’s North Side. “But we haveto realize HIV infection will still be a major challenge to pub- * Parts Specials * Parts ‘Specials * 16X CD-ROM 2.5 GIG HARD DRIVE 33.6 FAX/VOICE MODEM 14 INCH SVGA MONITOR WIN 95 TYPE KEYBOARDS tion aimedat educating Chicago's Latino population about AIDS preventionand treatment. “Now 1 don’t countyears as much as think I have more time for researchers to come up with a cure. I can set long-term goals for my work and personallife.” But Gonzalez-Rojas said recent lic health in the next 10 years. We just don’t know about durability of the drugs. The longest clinical trials for protease inhibitors are about three years.” Luskin-Hawk said many of her patients are struggling with finan- stopped doing business with AIBS hopeful prognosis. Somepatients are juggling the formidable monthiy drug bilis healthier than many people his age. “Credit cards I have to cover because I want to use them to eat cial issues associated with a more with credit card debt rung up when they did not figure to live long enoughto payoff the principal. In the past, people with advanced illness have cashed out life-insurance policies to cover mounting expenses. But a few “viatical” settlement companies patients due to the success of pre- tease inhibitors. Life is suddenly more complicated. “I’m still trying to figure out if I should pay my student loans,” said one 30-year-old man on HIV drug therapy who appears at restaurants or go on vacations. My hopeis to live another 10 years, maybe longer. Should I really carethat the governmentis after me for college money?” Chicago Tribunestaff writer Heather Lalley contributed to this story. Get Stim For Spring CALL ABOUT Parts: Specials * Parts Specials* GRAND OPENING SPECIAL @ @ @ @ @ e 15 45 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PHEN-FEN & REDUX aeete FAST & SAFE MEDICALL\aoe ISED WEIGHT LOSS CALL FORnieooOOS FREE BOD) TRANSFERRING?NO Sth START.SUP FEES PLWH 982-9084 2854 W. 4700 South Suite B reports of basketball star Magic Johnson's ‘miracle’ recovery from HIV infection has madehis job moredifficult in the past cou- ple of weeks. Some young people don’t have to worry about safe cially if going back to work disqualifies a patient from the state aid program that pays for them. Roseland Hospital on Chicago's South Side. “But we should be cautiously optimistic.’ Pharmaceutical companies lez-Rojas, program director at C.A.L.O.R, a West Side organiza- think if Johnson can overcome the disease, they can do the same or HIV-positive. Onepractical question is how to alreadyare considering AIDS asa treatable disease and funneling money to “more needy” causes like cancer or homelessness. And, there still are a lot of yearsto live,” said Martin Gonza- in 1996 — indicating that the disease may someday become more a manageable chronic condition than fatalillness — many uncer- pay for the drugs, which can cost $1,500 to $5,000 per month, espe- cal director of the AIDS unit at tive for HIV in January 1996, I figured maybe I had five to seven the federal government reported a 12 percentdrop in AIDS deaths tainties remain for those whoare tributions, say that some donors sex, Yet Johnson’s own doctors have stated the formerballplayer’s viral load is undetectable but certainly not eradicated. Indeed, the HOME’ UR PRICES VALID UNTIL MAY1ST, 1997 OR WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! conceptof an endto the AIDSepi- demic appears highly premature, and it can have unfortunate consequences. 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