Dutch cure for AIDS is discredited

Article Abstract:

A report on a cure for AIDS, written by Henk M. Buck, former dean of the department of chemistry at the Eindhoven Technical University in the Netherlands, published in Science (volume 248) in April 1990, is being discredited and will be retracted. The report described a mechanism for inhibiting the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, which causes AIDS). Nucleotides (components of DNA), synthesized in the laboratory, that were complementary to, but chemically different from the DNA of HIV (in that the phosphate group of the nucleotide was methylated) were added to HIV growing in tissue culture. The modified nucleotides inhibited the virus from dividing. However, it was later realized that the synthesized nucleotides were not what they were expected to be. The nucleotides should have been fully characterized chemically before the report was published. The findings were widely publicized to the general public; a television broadcast claimed that this was a way to inhibit HIV from dividing and that this could be a way to stop the development of AIDS. Because of the controversy, Buck was terminated as dean of the chemistry department. Buck's comment on the situation was that he did not think that the synthetic material could be anything other than what it was supposed to be. However, his colleagues say they warned him of possible problems. Buck responded by saying that he did not think any colleague told him that the synthesis was flawed. The criticism that Buck received from the reviewers of the publication did not raise any questions on the chemistry. The situation has caused problems with the chemistry department at Eindhoven and with the university in general. Several members of the faculty in the chemistry department have left their positions to work elsewhere. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Buck, Henk M.

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Humbling of world's AIDS researchers

Article Abstract:

The international conference on AIDS held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in Jul 1992 was pervaded by the disheartening realization that rapid progress in AIDS research has not transpired. Predictions made in the early 1980s that new treatments and vaccines for AIDS would quickly be developed have not been borne out. The conference was also marked by clashes between researchers and AIDS patients angry over the lack of progress; these patients and their allies need to realize that uncertainty is inherent in biomedical research. Most participants believed that the current slow pace of research will continue.

1992 AD

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A disappointing decade of AIDS

Article Abstract:

Widespread discouragement over the lack of progress in AIDS research since 1984 has cast a pall over plans for the 1993 international AIDS conference. Predictions that prophylactic vaccines and even a cure for AIDs would quickly be developed have not been borne out as the HIV virus, the cause of AIDS, has proven to be very difficult to attack. The sad likelihood is that AIDS will remain a fact of life for the foreseeable future. Countries should respond to this realization by ensuring the humane treatment of AIDS patients.

Forecasts and trends, 1993 AD

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