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New Drug To Fight AIDS

by Medindia Content Team on Jul 21 2005 4:30 PM

Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus caused by the virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus has caused more than three million deaths from HIV infection and more than 5 million adults and children are living with the HIV infection. By the end of this year it is estimated that world wide 39.4 million people will be infected by HIV.

Japanese researcher Hiroaki Mutsuva and his team from the University of Kumamoto has found a new drug AK602, which was found to inhibit the attachment and entry of the HIV virus in to the host human cell. As the attachment and entry of the virus is blocked the infection of the new host cell by the virus is stopped. The drug was tested on 40 AIDS patients in the US at a dosage of 0.02 ounces of the drug twice a day for 10 days and the results of the report say that HIV count has reduced by an average of 1%. The drug AK602, was found to attach to the protein receptors of the human cell at the receptor site where the HIV virus attaches by which it competitively inhibits the attachment of HIV virus.

Most of the anti-retroviral drugs used against HIV virus attacks the virus and leads to wide spread resistance of the virus to the drugs. But, the new drug AK602 bounds to the host cell it does not produce resistant virus and therefore no side effects are produced by the new drug

Related Information on AIDS in Medindia:

AIDS – Introduction:

More than 40 million people worldwide, are infected with HIV/AIDS and more than 3.1 million AIDS-related deaths occurred worldwide each year. Women are more affected by the virus than men. The Incidence of AIDS is higher in South Africa and the World AIDS Day campaign (December 1st) is aimed to raise awareness about AIDS. AIDS is the clinical manifestations or disease symptoms occurring due to HIV infection. Immune compromised stage of the infected person manifests this end stage.

For more information more:
www.medindia.net/Patients/
aids/Epidemiology.asp


AIDS/HIV – Treatment:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the CD4 immune cells, which are the immune system cells. CD4 cells trigger the immune system to create antibodies in order to fight off infection. As HIV destroys the CD4 cells, the function of immune system is suppressed and the affected person is not able to defend infection. As HIV reduces the CD4 cells, in your body, the person is unable to defend from infection. The immunosuppressed patient develops illness, infection and ultimately, AIDS.

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For more information read:
https://www.medindia.net/patients/
aids/treatment.htm


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