By Tammy Gay
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"It will remain to be determined whether
these new drugs will actually reduce the amount of infectious virus by inhibiting a
process that is essential for viral life-cycle."
Vincent S. Gallicchio
UK College of Allied Health Professions associate dean for research
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LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 6, 1999) -- University of
Kentucky College of Allied Health Professions Associate Dean for Research Vincent S.
Gallicchio, Ph.D., has received a patent to test whether current and future anti-viral
drug agents can be made more effective when made chemically as a lithium salt. Lithium
is known to have a number of immune enhancing properties and could possibly protect
certain cells from toxic therapies. Gallicchio proposes that combining drugs commonly used
for AIDS patients with lithium salts could result in fewer toxic side effects and reduce
the amount of virus in a person's system by enhancing the immune system.
The drugs, AZT and DDI, currently cause toxic side effects to bone marrow and the
pancreas. When these side effects occur, patients either have to take a smaller amount of
the drug or stop treatment. The second effect could be that the lithium could cause
certain cells with the AIDS virus to die.
"It will remain to be determined whether these new drugs will actually reduce the
amount of infectious virus by inhibiting a process that is essential for viral
life-cycle," Gallicchio said.
The clinical trials for this study will start this year at the University of
Potchefstroom in South Africa. The new treatment is being tested in South Africa because
AIDS infects a new person there every 11 seconds. The patent is filed in the United
States, Europe, and Africa. |
