hiv cure found

A breakthrough in the search for a cure for HIV will come ''within months'', researchers believe.
Danish scientists are expecting results showing that it will be possible to find a cure that is both affordable and can be provided to a large number of people.
They are running clinical trials to test a ''novel strategy'' in which the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, is stripped from human DNA and destroyed by the immune system.
It has already been found to work in laboratory tests and the scientists are now running human trials.

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The technique involves releasing the HIV virus from ''reservoirs'' it forms in DNA cells, bringing it to the surface of the cells. Once it comes to the surface, the body's immune system can kill the virus through being boosted by a ''vaccine''.
In vitro studies - those that use human cells in a laboratory - of the new technique proved so successful that in January the Danish Research Council awarded the team 12 million kroner ($2 million) to pursue clinical trials with human subjects.
Ole Sogaard, a senior researcher at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark who is leading the study, said: ''I am almost certain we will be successful in releasing the reservoirs of HIV.
''The challenge will be getting the immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it. This depends on the strength and sensitivity of individual immune systems.''
Fifteen patients are taking part in the trials, and if they are found to have been cured of HIV, the process will be tested on a wider scale.
The technique uses drugs called HDAC inhibitors, more commonly employed in treating cancer.
It is also being researched in Britain, but studies have not yet moved on to the clinical trial stage.
Telegraph, London

may be true

Malawi woman claims to have herbal concoction for HIV/AIDS cure

12 February 2012 Nation

A new Malawian herb concoction known as Garani MW 1 Herb might help to cure HIV/AIDS. Unlike other concoctions, Garani is backed by data in the field.
Mchape, a traditional concoction in Malawi stormed the HIV cure scene with pomp, but disappeared silently in disgrace.
Many other initially promising but ultimately doomed pretenders to the cure for HIV have come and gone, but the elusive conqueror of the devastating virus remains well beyond the horizon.
Or is this about to change now? Could a Lilongwe-based Malawina woman Gloria Jeremiah and her Garani MW 1 Herb be the real deal the world has been waiting for to deliver the knockout blow against a virus that has decimated populations across the globe?
No doubt, says Jeremiah.
Jeremiah says there is scientific evidence that her herb can make HIV disappear and that some people are free of the virus because of the drug.
Since 2009, Jeremiah claims has been engaging Malawi Government to certify the drug as an HIV cure, but all in vain.
Since the drug was discovered in 2007, Jeremiah has gone about her business silently, hoping that science would do its part to give it the final stamp of authority as the world’s first cure of HIV.
"Preliminary analysis was done at Chancellor College’s Chemistry Department under Professor Saka with the consent of the Office of the President and Cabinet, Nutrition, HIV and Aids. The herb was also given to the Malawi Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board for analysis. Preliminary results found three major moieties (parts or functional groups of a molecule) in the powder which need to be further identified," said Jeremiah.
She said things became tricky when government demanded that she reveal the name of the tree from which she gets the powder so that it is fully analysed before it can be certified and patented.
Malawi’s Secretary for Nutrition, HIV and Aids Dr Mary Shawa confirmed that her office took the medicine to the Malawi Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board, but added that it is necessary for Jeremiah to identify the tree before it can be certified.
"When such discoveries are made, they have to go through several stages; we need to name it as a country; the next stage is to subject it to testing and processes before we can send it to the World Health Organisation which is the only body that can certify it," said Shawa.
She said the drug is one of the priorities on her desk and that she called Jeremiah to discuss the issue.
of the tree, Jeremiah said: "Once the name of the tree is revealed, we could lose our intellectual rights. That’s why we insist on patenting first before anything like revealing the tree can happen." Jeremiah has since engaged a Malawian and foreign doctor to help her with the patenting process.
Away from the legal hustles, the drug continues to sell in silence. Jeremiah said many people who get "cured" are hesitant to come out into the open for fear of discrimination. News of the herb spreads through word of mouth.
On the efficacy of the drug, Shawa said: "I have seen a few people who used the herb and their problems and symptoms disappeared. Mind you, I am not saying cured, it disappeared and hid the HIV."
She said it is difficult to say for certain that one is cured of HIV because even prolonged intake of ARVs can hide the virus. She warned those using the herb against stopping taking ARVs.
Shawa said she appreciates that the drug could provide hope to people infected by the virus and that this is the reason the issue is a priority for her department.
"We want the herb, but the owner is uncomfortable with property rights. That’s where we stalemated," she said.
Garani MW 1 Herb was discovered by a man from Lilongwe who was shown the herb in a dream in 2007. He was HIV-positive and was on ARVs from 2005 to 2007.
He got ‘cured’ after taking the medicine. The man has been tested several times for HIV and is still HIV-negative.
After being rebuffed by some authorities, he contacted Jeremiah who has pioneered the medicine since. The man wants to remain out of the limelight, but if the herb is patented, he will have all rights over the drug.
Jeremiah challenges anybody to bring an HIV-positive person for treatment.
She says the herb does not clash with other medicines and that the only side effect associated with the herb is an increase in the level of appetite.
"I delayed coming open about the herb because I wanted to have tangible scientific evidence and I was afraid that it could affect my studies, but since I am finishing my Master’s degree this year, I feel this is the time," said Jeremiah, an alumna of The Polytechnic where she studied environmental health.
A retired senior government official, who did not want to be identified, revealed that he took the drug three years ago and has been HIV-free since.
"It’s contingent but it works. I am a living proof. I quit taking my ARVs over two years ago. I think if you believe in this medicine, it works...but don’t mention my name," he said.
The full course of the medicine is three teaspoons of the powder taken over a period of three days, repeated after two weeks. The herb is supposed to be applied in porridge without sugar or salt.
It is sold at K4 000 per pack and this is all it takes to make the HIV disappear within or even before 18 months.
A foreign doctor who is in the country to help with the patenting process said from the trials she conducted, there is hope that it could be a cure for HIV, but said a lot needs to be done before the drug can be certified as a cure.
The doctor gave the medicine to 18 HIV-positive people and from the preliminary results released last week, 10 people tested HIV-negative whereas others are still under observation and treatment.
"There is scientific evidence that the viral load is reduced drastically, especially during the first three months after taking the herb. A number of patients that took the herb last year have viral loads below 50 copies per millilitre of blood. This is great because such people are leading a normal life and doing their usual businesses," she said.
She said to determine if the person is free of HIV, there is need to use a DNA-screening method. The doctor is pessimistic that WHO would accept her results because "so far, regarding the ‘HIV end game’ the results are inconclusive."
"I am mindful, however, that many lives could be saved right now by this herb with the current scientific data we have."

On why she is insisting on patenting the drug before revealing the name

new hiv vaccine

Canadian researchers working to develop the world's first HIV vaccine announced on Tuesday that they have cleared a major hurdle. Initial results from a Phase I trial conducted by scientists at Western University has shown no adverse effects while significantly boosting immunity. The vaccine, which is based on a genetically modified, dead virus, can now progress to the next stage of testing. If all continues to go well, the vaccine could be commercially available in five years.

Since it first made its appearance in the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS has killed more than 28 million people worldwide, with more than 34 million people currently living with the virus infection. While there have been numerous attempts over the years to develop vaccines, nothing has worked to date. But if the early indications of this new vaccine is of any indication, that could soon change.

The vaccine, called SAV001-H, is being developed by Dr. Chil-Yong Kang and his team at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, with the support of Sumagen Canada. The now completed first-phase trial was a randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled study involving infected men and women aged 18 to 50.

Results from the trials showed that patients experienced no adverse effects — no local reactions from the injections, or any signs, symptoms, or reactions to potential toxicities. Given that the early results have shown safety and tolerability in humans, Sumagen and the Western researchers are now ready to embark upon the next phase of clinical trials to study the vaccine's immunity and effectiveness.

"We have proven that there is no safety concern of SAV001-H in human administration and we are now prepared to take the next steps towards Phase II and Phase III clinical trials," said Dr. Dong Joon Kim through the official release. "We are delighted to be one step closer to the first commercialized HIV vaccine."

Interestingly, the vaccine is unique in that it uses a killed whole HIV-a — much like the killed whole virus vaccines that are used to treat polio, influenza, rabies and hepatitis A. A killed vaccine is a vaccine made from a previously virulent or infectious agent that has been inactivated or killed in some way, typically by radiation, heat, or chemicals. In this case, the HIV-1 was genetically engineered so that it is non-pathogenic and can be produced in large quantities.

The phase 2 trial, which will begin next year, will see the vaccine tested on 600 HIV-negative volunteers at high risk for infection. This will allow the researchers to measure immune response. For phase 3, it's hoped that 6,000 HIV-negative volunteers can be recruited from different countries who are also at high risk for infection.

In addition, Sumagen will be looking to collaborate with multi-national biopharmaceutical companies for globalizing clinical trials and commercialization. Sumagen Co. Ltd. is a Korean-based pharmaceutical venture company that was established to fund the development of the HIV vaccine.

Source: Western University.

Image: Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com.

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