A new plague pill

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

STOPPING AIDS will take better education, health care and political consensus, to name a few factors. But a chunky, salmon-colored pill could play a key role.

The tablet combines three powerful virus-suppressing drugs in one dose, a first. It's a breakthrough that means poor countries ravaged by the AIDS virus will have an easier time dispensing vital medicine.

For years, AIDS patients have lived with this dilemma: A shelf-full of drugs, taken in careful sequence, could knock down symptoms, prolong life and lower infection rates by weakening the AIDS virus. But miss a few rounds, and the bug might revive to full strength.

The 3-in-1 pill makes it easier to keep the AIDS fight on course. For hard-pressed health-care systems in Africa and Asia, where infection rates have produced the highest death toll, the combined antiretroviral drugs could make a huge difference.

Within the world of AIDS drug-makers, the combo pill represents a too-rare collaboration. Gilead, based in Foster City, and Bristol-Myers Squibb teamed to make the drug. The powerhouse forces of "Big Pharma,'' or large research and production companies, have too often battled over licensing and approval problems instead of working together. Another positive sign is a promise by federal drug officials to expedite approvals.

There are several things the pill is not. It's not a cure or a vaccine against infection. One worry is that the once-a-day drug might lull the public into thinking AIDS is tamed.

Also, it's not cheap with a monthly cost of $1,100. This price will likely be cut sharply for developing countries where most of the 40 million AIDS-infected live.

Still, the drug is a modest win in a long fight. The need is for more victories such as this one.

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