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Live-Virus Vaccine Blocks AIDS In Monkeys

Posted by timothy on from the still-a-long-way-to-go dept.

joestump98 writes: "Using a weakened form of a virus commonly found in livestock and engineered to carry AIDS virus protiens, researchers have successfully protected monkeys from the deadly disease. They say it holds great promise for humans. The lead researcher says he hopes to have FDA approval within a year(!) and wishes they could start working with the drug in areas devastated by AIDS right away."

3 of 14 comments (clear)

  1. Coz most nerds have never had sex before :). by TheLink · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No sex = chance of getting AIDS approaches 0.

    This is Slashdot after all - news for nerds :).

    OK I mean sex with someone else. No virtual sex doesn't count either ;).

    Seriously tho. If you don't have sex with more than one partner, don't share needles and don't get tainted blood transfusions then it is very very unlikely you will get AIDS.

    That's why AIDS isn't really a big deal once you educate people. Then only the stubbornly stupid or extremely unfortunate die.

    Don't get me wrong an AIDS vaccine is good, and I hope it's a great success. I'm just trying to counter the current media perspective of AIDS. Well I suppose their revenues will be affected if they stop promoting promiscuity, sex sells after all ;).

    But there are so many other terrible diseases out there which kill millions more. Malaria for one.

    And there's always cancer - do everything right and you still have a high chance of getting it eventually. I suppose you have to go one way or another, but still....

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  2. hmph. by hamburger+lady · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The lead researcher says he hopes to have FDA approval within a year(!)and wishes they could start working with the drug in areas devastated by AIDS right away.

    well, the areas most affected by AIDS are in sub-saharan africa. so why be so concerned with the FDA?

    just saying.

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    Is this the MPAA? Is this the RIAA? Is this the DMCA? I thought it was the USA!
    1. Re:hmph. by david614 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think that there are guidelines when US-based researchers take the results of biological research overseas for "field tests."

      Lest we get an international repeat of the "Tuskeegee Experiment."

      Email me if you don't know what that was.

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      ELITISM: It's always lonely at the top. Uninvited company is rarely welcome.