Discovery 'may help with HIV treatment'
Author: Simon Macsis
Category: Health
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As one of the deadliest diseases in the world, scientists have been attempting to find a cure for HIV for years with little or no progress.
However, researchers led by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative have found what they described as an 'Achilles heel' on the virus.
According to the specialists, they have discovered two powerful new antibodies which may be instrumental in beating the condition, which has led to millions of deaths worldwide.
Experts at the Scripps Research Institute and at biotechnology companies Theraclone Sciences and Monogram Biosciences claim that the two new broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are likely to produce more such antibodies, which may in turn reveal the additional vulnerabilities of HIV.
Julie Cassard, information and campaigns officer for Avert, told health cover holders that while it may be too early to predict whether this research can have a profound effect on the global fight against the virus, it is important that healthcare studies such as this one continue to be conducted.
"Although this discovery might greatly help understanding how the HIV virus works, it is much too early to really say whether or not this will aid the development of the vaccine," she explained.
She added that discoveries are constantly being published which are only in stage two or three of development, or are potential breakthroughs but turn out to be ineffective.
Ms Cassard pointed to this new report as being important in educating specialists about how the virus works, however.
"It will certainly help towards the development of a vaccine but this is only a small step towards understanding the complexities of the HIV virus. It is not realistic to expect such research to produce a major breakthrough for some time yet," she explained.
The expert told medical health insurance customers that it is likely to be another ten years or more before the main findings unearthed in this new study are at the stage where an effective remedy can be rolled out.
As there is not yet a recognised cure for HIV, it is likely that worldwide demand for care will eventually outstrip supply, so further investigations are essential, she explained.
"It is therefore of crucial importance to continue our focus on prevention alongside these scientific discoveries. We are looking forward to seeing what might happen," Ms Cassard stated.
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Keywords: health cover, health insurance
View Count: 256
Date Submitted: 9/28/2009
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