(ATDN) Gem 91

(ATDN) Gem 91

Treatment Review No. 14; November 1994

A new category of drugs, called antisense drugs, may be able to target a specific disease without causing significant side effects. In any virus, the genes have a sequence unique in nature. In theory, antisense could be made that will bind only to the virus RNA without binding to the human RNA, thereby destroying the virus without harming the person.

A drug research company called Hybridon has developed an antisense anti- HIV treatment called Gem91. Test-tube studies have shown Gem91 to be active against many isolates. Isolates are virus samples taken from different places. Unlike AZT, ddI and ddC, Gem91 appears to be active against HIV-infected macrophages. Macro-phages are types of cells known to be a major reservoir for HIV infection. Antisense drugs can't stop cells from becoming infected, but will hopefully stop the cells from making more virus. Neither the long-term safety nor how well the drug works has been proven.

Test-tube studies of Gem91 showed that it shut down replication of the virus for more than 80 days in HIV-infected human cells. In early trials the drug was tolerated with no side effects. Further studies are necessary to see if Gem91 can stop the virus's ability to replicate so the immune system can effectively act against infection.

A trial of Gem91 is enrolling in New York. This is an intensive Phase I trial requiring three weeks of hospitalization for IV therapy. Participants will be paid. For more information about this trial, call The Network at (800) 858-2111.

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©1994. AEGIS.