AIDS Daily Summary July 25, 1994 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "Black May Be Tapped for AIDS Post" Washington Times (07/25/94) P. A1; Bedard, Paul With AIDS currently striking black men more so than any other segment of the population, the Clinton administration's replacement for Kristine Gebbie as National AIDS Policy Coordinator is likely to be an African-American, say insiders. The appointee is not, however, likely to be HIV-infected. The White House's search for a new AIDS czar is presently focused on two African-Americans: Dr. Helene Gayle, director of the Washington office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Phil Wilson, the overtly gay public policy director of Los Angeles' AIDS Project. AIDS activists, whose criticism eventually led to Gebbie's resignation, agree that appointment of an African-American to the position would be a favorable move. Also, the second AIDS czar will enjoy a new office in the Old Executive Office Building--an indication of the White House's seriousness about fighting AIDS. "Money Talk: Selling an Insurance Policy for Cash" Los Angeles Times (07/24/94) P. D5; Lazzareschi, Carla An entire industry has been built around the concept of viatical settlements--the sale of life insurance policies by AIDS patients and other individuals with life-threatening conditions in order to have money to live comfortably. Before making such major decisions, however, terminally ill persons should consider several factors. The amount paid on life insurance policies is generally 50 to 80 percent of the face value, depending upon the size of the policy. Also, the longer the life expectancy of the policyholder, the less money that patient can expect to receive for his or her policy. Viatical companies usually seek those patients who are expected to live less than a year. Potential life insurance policy sellers should be aware that proceeds from such sales are subject to regular federal income tax. "Catholic Charities Expands Services to San Franciscans With HIV" Business Wire (07/21/94) A $500,000 grant from the federal Ryan White CARE fund will allow Catholic Charities, the non-profit human services arm of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, to expand services to HIV-infected San Franciscans. The Direct Services program, which was implemented in 1985, already helps more than 160 individuals each year with deposit and rental assistance, as well as assistance with medical expenses. Services will be provided for 150 new clients this year, says Bob Nelson, manager of HIV Direct Services. "Researchers Say Tuberculosis Rules Too Costly" Reuters (07/20/94) Researchers at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville contend that new federal regulations concerning the prevention of tuberculosis among health workers would be too expensive and not very effective. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is requiring the use of special respirator masks and isolation rooms to prevent TB transmission from patients to health care workers. To determine the costs and benefits to their hospital, the researchers examined a year's worth of records for patients isolated because of TB infection or suspected infection. They found that most workers who were exposed to TB did not have contact with patients hospitalized for the infection, meaning that they were probably exposed to the bacteria outside of the facility. The researchers concluded, then, that the OSHA regulations would not have protected them. The group also calculated the cost of preventing a single case of occupational TB at their hospital to be between $1.3 million and $18.5 million. "A Private-Sector AIDS Vaccine? Don't Hold Your Breath" Washington Post (07/19/94) P. A17; Francis, Donald P.; Kennedy, Donald The need for an AIDS vaccine is uncontested and the research capability to develop one is present; however, AIDS experts say the current effort is small, due to the absence of adequate economic incentives. Pharmaceutical companies avoid development of preventive vaccines because they sell at low prices, are not very profitable, and often are not used--even when supplied free of charge. While the economic incentives are virtually non-existent, the risks associated with the many unknown facets of HIV and with testing candidate vaccines are great. Because no other industry will develop AIDS vaccines, steps must be taken to remove the barriers that deter biopharmaceutical firms from pursuing vaccines. These measures include expanding government initiatives to support early-stage vaccine development efforts, and investigating historically successful vaccine approaches. Also, the government needs to demonstrate a strong commitment to funding and other support of clinical trials for promising candidate vaccines, and to establish mechanisms to protect vaccine makers from liability claims. "AIDS Indicator" Newsweek (07/25/94) Vol. 124, No. 4, P. 2 One indication that an invasion of Haiti is impending is the gathering of American troops to receive the traditional predeployment lecture on avoiding AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Haiti, according to health experts, has the highest rate of AIDS in the Caribbean, and it is transmitted primarily through heterosexual intercourse. "AIDS Funding Fight Reaches 'Crisis' State" Washington Blade (07/15/94) Vol. 25, No. 29, P. 1; Campbell, Kristina AIDS lobbyists continue to press a key Senate appropriations subcommittee to raise AIDS funding above the levels approved by the House of Representatives. While lobbyists were pleased with the House's $63 million increase over this year's AIDS allocation for prevention efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the increase seem to be at the expense of two other areas of AIDS funding: the Ryan White CARE Act and AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health. The budget now goes to the Senate, where lobbyists are hoping that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will bring a more positive picture to AIDS appropriations. Harkin, a longtime supporter of the AIDS community, chairs the HHS appropriations committee. "France Wins Larger Share of Patent Royalties After AIDS Test Dispute" Nature (07/14/94) Vol. 370, No. 6485, P. 85; Macilwain, Colin In what the French are viewing as a victory, the Pasteur Institute will now receive a greater share of patent royalties from AIDS tests developed jointly with scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The American facility conceded that the test kit that it developed used a virus provided by the French center. In the future, the French and American AIDS Foundation--the body established in 1987 to distribute the royalties--will divide the royalties in such a manner that the French will be given more money. Previously, the United States received more royalties because its test kit has enjoyed much greater sales than the French one. Both camps agree that the new agreement settles the dispute once and for all, but it does not answer the question of whether NIH researcher Robert Gallo used the French virus by accident, or intentionally. "More on the Declining Age at HIV Infection" New England Journal of Medicine (07/14/94) Vol. 331, No. 2, P. 134; Hughes-Davies, T.H. A new physician in 1983 would have likely waited longer before documenting his or her first case of AIDS than would have a new doctor in 1993, deducts T.H. Hughes-Davies, F.R.C.P. In the same vein, today's patient is apt to contract HIV after fewer exposures now than 15 years ago, Hugh-Davies adds. Therefore, the decline in the age at infection with HIV described by Rosenberg et al. in the March 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine was not unexpected.