New AIDS Gene therapy excites some but worries others

Associated Press Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione’s article titled Gene therapy raises hope for a future AIDS cure gives those who suffer with AIDS a little ray of hope.  It covers the story for several angles and provides the reader with a full picture of the recent discovery.

What is also does is make many feel like celebrating the fact that we do have the capacity to create something that benefits the world as a whole and should make us feel better about the importance of science in our school curriculums.  It reports that “the concept was based on the astonishing case of an AIDS patient who seems to be cured after getting blood cells from a donor with natural immunity to HIV nearly four years ago in Berlin” where “scientists used genetic engineering in six patients to develop blood cells that are resistant to HIV.”  It is quite understandable why “the results announced Monday at a conference in Boston left experts cautiously excited.”  No one wants to claim something as monumental as this without being absolutely sure.  For so long many who suffers from this disease have been praying for news like this and the last thing any of them need to is be convinced that this works perfectly when it doesn’t .  "For the first time, people are beginning to think about a cure" as a real possibility, said Dr. John Zaia, head of the government panel that oversees gene therapy experiments. Even if the new approach doesn't get rid of HIV completely, it may repair patients' immune systems enough that they can control the virus and not need AIDS medicines — "what is called a functional cure," he said.  This in itself is a call to all who wish to see those who suffer, suffer less but for one group this may not be the news they had hoped for.

The cost for this procedure may be in the neighborhood of $93,000.00 but if compared to $25,000.00 a year for the rest of an infested person’s life, it could be a severe cost savings.  Not to mention the effect as stated by Matt Sharp, 54, of suburban San Francisco who said "I would trade anything to not have to take a handful of medications every day for the rest of my life and suffer all the consequences and side effects," he said.   The news may even get better if the treatment does work and is covered by insurance.  Image the relief that would be felt by so many of those infected as well as their families and loved ones.