Med Monitor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Radiesse to correct the effects of facial lipoatrophy associated with HIV disease, making it the second facial filler to receive approval. ---------- A review of 12 North American and European cohort studies has found that HIV-infected patients who begin therapy with a regimen that includes Sustiva are less likely to progress to an AIDS diagnosis or premature death or to fail to suppress viral loads than patients who begin with other antiretrovirals, according to a report published in the September 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. ---------- Researchers at the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry are experimenting with inserting fragments of genes for various HIV proteins into tomatoes, which then manufacture additional viral particles in their own structures and, when eaten, could prompt humans to create antibodies against HIV. Similar studies with mice'also using hepatitis B'have been effective. If this approach is successful in humans, populations in poor countries could benefit from the ease of delivering edible vaccines, which would not have to be injected or refrigerated. ---------- Novavax Inc. has reported successful enhancements in quality and purity of its HIV-focused virus-like particle vaccine. The project could move into human clinical trials in the near future, according to Novavax. A virus-like particle vaccine contains elements that are similar to HIV in structure but do not contain any of its DNA. Similar vaccines for other diseases have been able to protect against viral infection by triggering immune responses. ---------- Ambrilla Pharmaceuticals has reported encouraging results of unboosted experimental protease inhibitor PPL-100 from a Phase I safety clinical trial. Because many of the currently approved protease inhibitors require a booster dose of Norvir to be effective, researchers are hopeful that the medication will continue to perform well as it advances through other clinical trials.