AEGiS-GMHC: IN BRIEF: Imuthiol Pulled from Trials

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

IN BRIEF: Imuthiol Pulled from Trials

Gay Men's Health Crisis Treatment Issues, Vol. 5, No. 6 - August 30, 1991
Risa Denenberg, F.N.P.

In a shocking move, the French drug company Institute Merieux has summarily halted trials of their experimental drug Imuthiol. According to Dr. Jean Caraux, a Merieux representative, preliminary analysis of a large French trial underway since 1987 has raised serious questions about Imuthiol's efficacy. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 1,550 mostly asymptomatic patients. The mean T4 count of participants was 450. Patients who progressed were offered AZT. Merieux claims that no benefit was seen for participants receiving drug, and, indeed, those on Imuthiol may have progressed faster than patients taking placebo. Dr. Caraux did emphasize that more analyses of data would be performed and that these were preliminary data. But, the company did pull the drug from all ongoing trials, and seems to posture that Imuthiol has no future as a treatment for HIV.

The PWA Health Group, an underground buyers' club, has reported that sales are brisk as people are trying to stock up on the drug. Merieux stated they will encourage regulatory authorities in New Zealand, the only country where the drug has been approved for AIDS, to stop selling the drug for that indication. However, Merieux cannot force the drug off the market. If authorities in New Zealand decide to discontinue Imuthiol, the underground in other countries will have to find another source for the drug. Treatment Issues will report any further developments as they occur.

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