http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/sav001-hiv-vaccine-side-effects-adverse_n_2102593.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
One Step Closer
The researchers from the University of Western Ontario have been working hard and may have developed a vaccine for HIV. Christened SAV001-H, it has been tested on a subject, and so far hasn't shown any adverse side effects and also seemed to boost the body's antibody formation against the virus. "Sumagen announced today the patient enrollment has progressed smoothly and there have been no adverse effects observed including local reactions, signs/symptoms and laboratory toxicities after SAV001-H injection in all enrolled patients to date."
It now goes on to further testing to see how safe this vaccine really is. The FDA has already approved a medication that will prevent HIV in healthy people, called Truvada. This pill is specifically for people who are at a high risk, such as their partner is infected. They take the pill and then they may sleep safe at night. This current vaccines though is very exciting and could be the first step towards eliminating HIV-Aids.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Issues with affordable Anti-Malaria
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96705/GLOBAL-The-trouble-with-affordable-anti-malarials
The Affordable Medicines Facility (AMF) for malaria drugs - administered by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - has been controversial from the start. Most of the vendors in Africa that provide these medications have no medical training, have pill bottles just lying out for purchase, they don't write prescriptions, and there's always the worry that what you're buying is not the real thing. Restricting them from selling though can be dangerous, for those who live in a village that is very far from a clinic.
Ten years ago it became evident that these vendors were going to be a problem, they were selling cheaper versions of the drugs, outdated versions, weaker versions which was almost sure to end up in a resistance buildup and make the drugs ineffective.
A plan was put into action to flood that market with the effective expensive drugs, but at lower prices, what that ended up creating was a bad system, but with better drugs. Since introducing this system other complications have arisen too. Even though these shopkeepers are selling the top brand drugs at a low price, they still are untrained medically and unable to make a diagnosis. How does one treat a disease with no knowledge of what it is or the steps that need to be taken to cure it.
Its a tough situation to weigh out, remove those vendors and you critically restrict a poor populations access to medicine. Continue to let those vendors exist and you potentially put the same people at risk, having access to medicine is only beneficial if youre getting the medicine you need.
The Affordable Medicines Facility (AMF) for malaria drugs - administered by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - has been controversial from the start. Most of the vendors in Africa that provide these medications have no medical training, have pill bottles just lying out for purchase, they don't write prescriptions, and there's always the worry that what you're buying is not the real thing. Restricting them from selling though can be dangerous, for those who live in a village that is very far from a clinic.
Ten years ago it became evident that these vendors were going to be a problem, they were selling cheaper versions of the drugs, outdated versions, weaker versions which was almost sure to end up in a resistance buildup and make the drugs ineffective.
A plan was put into action to flood that market with the effective expensive drugs, but at lower prices, what that ended up creating was a bad system, but with better drugs. Since introducing this system other complications have arisen too. Even though these shopkeepers are selling the top brand drugs at a low price, they still are untrained medically and unable to make a diagnosis. How does one treat a disease with no knowledge of what it is or the steps that need to be taken to cure it.
Its a tough situation to weigh out, remove those vendors and you critically restrict a poor populations access to medicine. Continue to let those vendors exist and you potentially put the same people at risk, having access to medicine is only beneficial if youre getting the medicine you need.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)