Comments on: Human Stem Cells Successfully Fight HIV in Mice

By: shammah

shammah — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:59:15 +0000

The virus has two main ways in, CXCR4 and CCR5 receptors, the report never mentioned the CXCR4 tropic strain which would make this “cure” useless.

By: Swampfox

Swampfox — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:56:57 +0000

All I have to say is faster, please. I hope that someone finds a cure for HIV soon.

As for other auto-immune diseases. I have a friend with an auto-immune disorder who has to take a prolonged injection nearly every week. She has to put four needles into her abdomen and hook it up to a portable pump so she can walk around. The cost is covered by her insurance, but the supposed cost to the insurance company is over 20K per treatment. If only she could take a one time injection to cure what she is afflicted. Faster, please.

By: Priya Lynn

Priya Lynn — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:58:49 +0000

Ray, the cost of injecting people is almost certainly a negligable part of the total cost of treatment. I suspect its very expensive to produce each batch of treated stem cells.

By: Jim in MA

Jim in MA — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:28:47 +0000

Also note that they said that part of the treatment is to engineer the patient’s own cells. You couldn’t just make a batch and inject everyone. They have to grow a batch specifically for each person.

By: Scott P.

Scott P. — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:08:47 +0000

Please remember, the price contains all the investment of research, material et cetera. And most drug companies prorate the expense, making it more affordable in poorer countries. And, as with current drugs, once it’s in production (providing it works) the cost will come down.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:58:39 +0000

And yes, $100,000 is a bargain compared to the current cost of treatment.
============

It’s open to polite debate. For example, if the treatment works, what does the treatment consist of; a single IV drip into your arm? That’s a whooping price tag for bag of fluids.

Maybe I just can’t imagine what “treatment” consists of. If you can take a syringe and inject this magic goo into a mouse and it results in a mouse that is HIV-negative, that’s something a minimum wage employee can do all day long. He can inject maybe 300 people in a single shift and the price tag is $64.00. Are they saying the magic bullet cost $99,940.00 a shot? I think rewarding the researchers is okay, but there are what; 34 million people with AIDS in the world?

34M X 100,000.00 = 3 Trillion bucks. The inventors could buy a couple of large countries on that that kind of royalty. Vacation house in Hawaii? No sweat. Just buy Hawaii.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:57:34 +0000

Well, of course it would be great if this is the “miracle” cure, but I’ll believe it when they prove it.

And yes, $100,000 is a bargain compared to the current cost of treatment.

By: Scott P.

Scott P. — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:33:12 +0000

AIDS is no longer a death sentence. The life expectancy of a 40 year old with full-blown AIDS is 20-30 years. Atripla, the current favored drug costs $50 a pill in the US. With another 30-40 years projected, then the government and most HMOs will be more than willing to fork out one lump sum than to continue treating it with drugs. For most AIDS patients there are a lot more drugs than just the anti-retrovirals. Everything from vitamins to cholesterol medication is required, along with quarterly doctor visits. Lets all hope this is a final, real cure, but we’ve all been down this road before.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:21:33 +0000

$100,000.00????????????????

In other words, if this works a whole lot of people will still die because they can’t afford the “cure”. Talk about immoral!!!!!!!!!

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:45:38 +0000

Whether this works or needs more extension and intense expansion of test subjects to prove effective, it’s always good to hear in what way researchers are finding ways to combat this disease.

I live with an auto immune disorder everyday that puts me at risk of similar problems to those with HIV. If researchers could find a way to reverse the rH factor and genetic mutation that causes my lupus, I’d be happy too.

Whenever the anti gay bring up HIV/AIDS as a deciding factor for them regarding gay equality (such as the testimonies from Elaine Donnelly and DADT), they are ready with all kinds of statistics and medical information, but are not part of the waves of people who care to FIGHT THE DISEASE through funding of medical research, educational and preventive outreach in vulnerable communities.

You never hear about them participating in any voluteerism in any of those areas, or giving money to the cause.
They’d rather give money to keep gay people from getting married, than keeping people from getting the disease in the way most effective.

It’s the folks who HAVE endeavored to promote charities and medical research, engage people with AIDS and commit to educating the public that can take credit for this exciting new experiment.

At least it looks like they get more results anyway.