"Merck Develops Drug to Combat Virus Causing AIDS; Human Tests Begun"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"Merck Develops Drug to Combat Virus Causing AIDS; Human Tests Begun"

Wall Street Journal (12/21/90), P. A3
Waldholz, Michael

Abstract: Merck + Co. said it has developed a new type of drug that deactivates HIV reverse transcriptase in a way different from AZT and has already begun testing the drug in humans. The drug is also different from the reverse transcriptase blocker Boehringer Ingelheim reported two weeks ago, Merck said. Laboratory tests show the enzyme-blocker is more potent than AZT and animal tests show minimal toxicity. However, Merck is not certain the drugs will be less toxic than AZT in humans or that they will be effective. The company began human tests of the new drug in Europe last month and started safety tests at the National Institutes of Health last week.

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