Rick---
Your skepticism is, IMHO, very wise. Caveat emptor.
I couldn't agree with you more in regards to using investor relations as a source of information. This is a matter of global health concern; authorities in this field, with no particular axe to grind, will likely be the best source of information.
Along these lines, today I read a summary of the various HIV vaccine trials; this appeared in the Lancet, a very prestigious British medical journal---the British equivalent of JAMA. They have been keeping track of the HIV trials for some time. I'm sorry, but I don't have a link; they do have a website (www.lancet.com, or maybe www.thelancet.com), but you have to register. The citation, if you are interested in looking it up at the library, is Lancet. 1999;353:1600. I will summarize below what it said:
There are several companies involved in HIV vaccine trials using a variety of agents. The first, using V3-MAPS, was started in 1994 by UBI; it is inactive, because it was not successful.
1. Two companies (Chiron and Genentech) are testing an agent called rgp120B, and both are in Phase II (they began in 1995).
2. Chiron also started a Phase I trial in 1998 with rgp120(E+B), but a company called VaxGen appears to be further along (they are in Phase II/III).
3. A Cuban company called CIGB is in Phase I with a product called V3 protein (B).
4. A French company called PMC is in Phase I with an agent called canary pox enn,gag,pro (B).
5. A Japanese company is planning a trial with a similar agent, but has not yet begun.
Also in the Lancet I found a fascinating article on the problems and potential solutions to HIV vaccine development. One problem, particularly in the trial ongoing in Thailand, is that the rate of HIV infection appears to be decreasing. This will prolong the trials, if it is true.
But another problem, and a potential solution, involves the mode of delivery and mechanism of action. It seems that scientists working at Biogen published in 1994 a method to get large molecules across cell membranes. Apparently, at least to the best of my knowledge, they didn't take this much further.
But Steven Dowdy and colleagues at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in St. Louis has (see Lancet. 1999;353:2134). These latter investigators found a way to get a transcription factor called tat HIV-1 across the cell membrane. This is potentially very significant, and they have been successful at getting other large molecules into cells as well.
The potential application to HIV which they are pursuing is this:
They attach a protein called Caspase-3 to the tat HIV-1 complex, but the Caspase-3 is in a form such that the only thing which will change it into an active form is HIV-1 protease, which is produced by HIV infected cells. When activated, Caspase-3 initiates apoptosis (cell suicide). They have shown that they can get the tat-Caspase-3 complex into various cells, but only those infected with HIV and producing HIV protease will activate the complex. So only HIV-infected cells will die, and other cells are apparently unharmed.
I don't know if there is any patent or license associated with the process, nor do I know whether these investigators have industry ties. But, I would think this would be something worth pursuing.
I too am interested in HIV vaccines/cures as an investment. I agree they will get fast-track FDA approval, but clinical results may be a long time in coming. Once these agents are shown to be effective, this area should be hugely lucrative.
Thank you for your posts; I would be very interested in whatever else you may discover.
In the meantime, keep a wary eye!
Regards,
Walkingshadow |
