Excellent resource for anyone looking for clinical trials.

[JackBeck]

www.trialsearch.org

Anyone interested in participating in clinical trials should use this website to find any that are close to you.

Peace,
JB

[richabk]

1. Question concerning medical trials...

Are HIV clinical trials only for those people who have already become resistant to all other forms of meds? My understanding is that it is VERY unwise to switch meds needlessly because it invites drug class resistance.
Is this true?

Thanks,
B

[JackBeck]

2. Clinical trials have very specific criteria set in place.

You must match the criteria that they have set in place.

With that said, there are many clinical trials that also deal with side effects from certain meds, like lipodystrophy, candidiasis and neuropathy that deal with things that don't interrupt HAART.

As always, one should discuss entering a clinical trial with their physician before committing to a trail.

[wiley]

3. Clinical Trials are also conducted for people who are intolerant of drugs

For example, someone may be completely unable to take Norvir(ritonavir) in even the 100 to 200 mgs it is used to boost other drugs so that blood levels are steady at a therapeutic range. The almost approved Merck drug, raltegravir, and the Pfizer drug Maraviroc should help both people who are intolerant to existing drugs as well as those with extensive viral resistance. At this point there are six or seven drugs coming up that should really help people desperate for treatment options that are tolerable, and that reduce viral load below 50 - the new "best case" scenario of HIV treatment.Everyone concerned about HIV should be advocating for adequate funding for HIV treatment and care programs. Many people will never see even basic treatment - in the United States - unless Congress acts to fund HIV and Hepatitis treatment and care.