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Sangamo BioSciences announced yesterday that it is initiating two Phase 2 clinical trials of its gene therapy treatments for people with HIV. The trials will test two different strategies for increasing the effectiveness of the therapy, with the goal of creating a cure for HIV.

“We are delighted to be able to open these two important clinical studies ahead of schedule,” said Geoff Nichol, executive vice president of research and development at Sangamo, in a press release.

Both trials are testing gene therapy approaches to curing HIV. In the field…

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This article is the second part of a two-part interview with Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, senior scientific consultant for the Foundation for AIDS Research, on the Foundation’s efforts toward a cure for HIV. Part 1 discusses the possibility of a cure and why it is necessary. Part 2 discusses the Foundation’s cure research and some promising avenues toward a cure.

Thirty years after the start of the AIDS epidemic, scientists and researchers know more than ever about the elusive and difficult-to-treat HIV virus. And, with the first-ever example of a…

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This article is the first part of a two-part interview with Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, senior scientific consultant for the Foundation for AIDS Research, on the Foundation’s efforts toward a cure for HIV. Part 1 discusses the possibility of a cure and why it is necessary. Part 2 discusses the Foundation’s cure research and some promising avenues toward a cure.

When it was founded in 1985 by actress Elizabeth Taylor and scientist Mathilde Krim, the purpose of the Foundation for AIDS Research, known by its initials amfAR, was to…

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Foundation For AIDS Research Announces Additional $2.1 Million In Grants Towards AIDS Cure – The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) has announced that it will distribute an additional $2.1 million in grants and fellowships to researchers working toward a cure for HIV. AmfAR states that 60 percent of its research grants now go toward research into finding a cure for HIV. Many of the grants have been awarded to scientists working on eliminating latent HIV, which is a dormant form of HIV that is not affected by antiretrovirals. Many scientists believe that activating and eliminating latent HIV is the key to a cure (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the amfAR press release.

FDA Grants Priority Review For HIV Neuropathy Pain Relief Patch Qutenza – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted biopharmaceutical company NeurogesX a priority review for its capsaicin patch Qutenza, which is currently being evaluated for the treatment of pain from HIV-associated neuropathy. The decision means that the FDA will review the application for approval of Qutenza in six months rather than the usual 10 months. NeurogesX stated that it expects a decision from the FDA on March 7, 2012. Neuropathy is a condition that causes pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in the extremities. Qutenza is a capsaicin patch that is placed on the skin for 30 minutes. If approved, it would be the first product in the U.S. indicated for the treatment of pain from HIV-related neuropathy. It is currently approved for treatment of nerve pain due to shingles. For more information, please see the NeurogesX press release.

World AIDS Day Is December 1 – December 1 marks the 23rd World AIDS Day, a day set aside to remember those who have passed from the disease, acknowledge those who are living with HIV and AIDS, and spread awareness of its impact around the globe. The theme of this year’s AIDS day is “Getting to Zero,” which refers to zero new infections, zero new deaths from AIDS, and zero discrimination against people with HIV. Cities around the nation and the world will be holding events to mark World AIDS Day. For more information on participating or to register an event, please see the AIDS.gov website. For more information on World AIDS Day, please see the international World AIDS Day website.

Redesigned AIDSinfo Website To Debut On World AIDS Day – AIDSinfo, a website maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been redesigned; the new design will debut on World AIDS Day, December 1. In addition, the Spanish version of the site, infoSIDA, will now have its own web address at www.infoSIDA.nih.gov. The AIDSinfo websites bring federal information regarding HIV and AIDS research, treatments, prevention, and medical practices to the public, with a specific focus on clinical research information and medical guidelines related to the care of people with HIV and AIDS. For more information, please see the AIDSinfo website.

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Merck To Collaborate With The Vaccine And Gene Therapy Institute On HIV Latency Research – U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck has entered into a three-year agreement with the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida to collaborate on research into HIV latency. Latent HIV is a dormant form of HIV that is not actively replicating and therefore is not eliminated by antiretroviral drugs. The research is part of an effort toward finding a cure for HIV and will focus on methods to target latent HIV and test latency drug candidates. Many scientists believe HIV could be cured by combining antiretrovirals with drugs to activate and target latent HIV (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the press release from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida.

Secretary Of State Clinton Calls For AIDS-Free Generation – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for the world to work toward an AIDS-free generation in a speech at the National Institutes of Health last week. Secretary Clinton advocated the use of antiretroviral drugs in combination with prevention measures such as male circumcision and promotion of condom use to cut the number of HIV infections. Secretary Clinton stated that the U.S. would grant $60 million toward these efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Clinton also appointed talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as an international envoy for AIDS awareness. For more information, please see the article in the Washington Post.

Magic Johnson Marks 20 Years Of Living With HIV – Last week marked the 20th anniversary of basketball player ‘Magic’ Earvin Johnson’s announcement that he would retire from the Los Angeles Lakers due to HIV infection. At the time, in 1991, people with HIV were not expected to live very long. Last week, Johnson said that if he had known how well he would live with HIV he would not have retired. Since going public with his HIV infection, Johnson has been an active member of the HIV/AIDS community, including starting the Magic Johnson Foundation to help fight HIV and serving as a United Nations Ambassador of Peace. For more information, please see the Associated Press article.