Science / Medicine : Drug Inhibits AIDS Virus

A drug discovered in a Texas laboratory appears in early tests to inhibit growth of the AIDS virus and may show promise in preventing healthy people from contracting the disease, the laboratory said last week.

Bill McAnalley, Carrington’s research director, said the studies showed that the drug seems to boost the body’s ability to fight the AIDS virus even in healthy patients. “The drug turns on the immune system and the effects last several days from just one dose.”

The drug, whose brand name is Carrisyn, was given orally to healthy male patients. Blood samples were then taken from the patients and put into test tubes. The AIDS virus was then added to the blood and the growth of the virus was measured.

The virus spread less quickly than it would have in blood from men who did not take the drug, McAnalley said.