But growing problems with drug-resistant viruses now threaten to take back hard won ground in the fight against the epidemic. In the early days of the epidemic, it wasn't understood that the virus quickly develops resistance when not attacked with several drugs at one. At this time, I'm searching yet again for another combination that will buy me some more time. Deeks says there is a desperate need for new drugs.
Researchers say they're on the way.
Research on new drugs and the results of small-scale studies on several existing drug regimens are being presented this week at a conference on retroviruses in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting is being sponsored by the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I see several better options from the old classes. Some 18 anti-retroviral agents now are available for prescription, either alone or in combination. Using these drugs, physicians have been able to suppress the AIDS virus to near undetectable levels in many patients.