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AIDS TREATMENT NEWS Issue #213, December 23, 1994
   phone 800/TREAT-1-2, or 415/255-0588


CONTENTS:

Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS): Possible Virus Discovered   1

Kaposi's Sarcoma: DOX-SL Available to Some Patients through 
New Program   2

Wasting Syndrome: Human Growth Hormone Becoming Available -- 
Treatment IND   3

ACT UP Fights for Breast Cancer Drug; Funeral Procession Vs. 
Genentech   3

"AIDS Coffee Klatch" Grassroots Political Organizing   4

The New Congress: Call for Information   4

Activist Groups, Buyers' Clubs, and PWA Coalitions, U.S. and 
Canada   5

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS Selected Index, through 1994   7


***** Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS): Possible Virus Discovered

by John S. James

Researchers at Columbia University have found evidence of a 
previously unknown herpesvirus in KS lesions of persons with 
AIDS. This virus has not been found in tissues of persons 
without AIDS and without KS -- including those with lymphoma 
and other diseases. It is occasionally present in non-KS 
tissue from persons with AIDS.

This association does not necessarily mean that the virus 
causes KS -- since it could be a normally-occurring virus 
which preferentially grows in KS tissue. But if the virus 
does cause KS, the finding will be very important for 
developing treatments, for diagnostic tests to tell who is at 
risk, and for epidemiological studies to prevent the spread 
of the virus. It is not known whether or not the new virus is 
sensitive to any existing drugs.

Researchers have long believed that KS is not a true cancer 
-- and that it is probably caused by an infectious agent 
other than HIV, but is unlikely to become a serious problem 
except in those who are immune compromised. It is 20 times 
more likely to be found in gay men with AIDS than in 
hemophiliacs with AIDS, and may be transmitted (separately 
from HIV) by unsafe sexual practices.

The new research used an advanced biotechnology technique 
called representational difference analysis (RDA). In RDA, 
two different tissues are taken from the same patient -- in 
this case from a KS lesions, vs. tissue without KS. RDA uses 
gene amplification (PCR) in a special way, in order to find 
genetic sequences which are uniquely present in the tissue of 
interest. (Once such a sequence is identified, more 
conventional techniques can be used to identify it in other 
tissue samples.)

The paper describing the research appeared in SCIENCE, 
December 16. The NEW YORK TIMES reported that the editors of 
SCIENCE took five months to examine the data, to be 
especially careful to make sure the results were valid. There 
is skepticism about the reasons for the delay.

This research was funded by Columbia University's Department 
of Pathology, and School of Public Health.

Comment: Foscarnet, Call for Information

At the Second International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV 
Infection, last month in Glasgow, Scotland, a physician in 
the audience reported that several KS patients had improved 
when treated with foscarnet (Foscavir), an approved drug 
usually used for treating CMV infection. According to NURSING 
94 DRUG HANDBOOK, foscarnet inhibits all known herpesviruses 
in laboratory tests. Unfortunately foscarnet must be given 
intravenously, and it can cause serious toxicities.

We heard that some KS experts scoffed at these case reports, 
because the information was not from a controlled trial. They 
probably did know about the Columbia findings, which were not 
public at the time of the Glasgow meeting but were discussed 
privately there.

If you know of any case in which a person with KS has used 
foscarnet, regardless of whether or not there seemed to be 
any effect on the KS, please contact John S. James at AIDS 
TREATMENT NEWS, 415/255-0588, or fax to 415/255-4659.

References

Chang Y, Cesarman E, Pessin MS, Lee F, Culpepper J, Knowles 
DM, and Moore PS. Identification of herpesvirus-like DNA 
sequences in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma. SCIENCE. 1994; 
volume 266, pages 1865-1869.


***** Kaposi's Sarcoma: DOX-SL Available to Some Patients 
      through New Program

DOX-SL (TM) (liposomal doxorubicin), an experimental 
treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma, will now be available through 
a new trial to persons who have failed systemic combination 
chemotherapy. DOX-SL is a conventional chemotherapy drug 
(doxorubicin), but in a new form which causes it to be 
targeted better to KS lesions. DOX-SL is also being tested as 
a treatment for some solid-tumor cancers. (For a short 
background article, see "KS: DOX-SL Submitted for Approval," 
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #208, October 7, 1994.)

This trial is for patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's 
sarcoma, who have received systemic combination chemotherapy 
(with two drugs, not including interferon, given together), 
and either are intolerant to the combination chemotherapy, or 
have had disease progression after receiving at least two 
cycles of it. "Intolerance" is defined as grade IV toxicity, 
or more than one episode of grade III toxicity on the same 
regimen; "disease progression" is defined as new visceral 
sites, or progression of visceral disease, or development of 
new or increasing KS-associated edema lasting at least one 
week and interfering with normal activities, or a 25 percent 
increase in the number of lesions, or a change of 25 percent 
or more of all previously "flat" lesions to "raised." There 
are also other entry requirements, including cardiac ejection 
fraction >50 percent, hemoglobin >9, neutrophil count >1,200, 
platelet count >75,000, and bilirubin and creatinine both 
less than twice the upper limit of normal.

The new study protocol will also be available to patients who 
have been participating in DOX-SL protocols 30-10, 30-11, or 
30-12, and for whom continuation of DOX-SL is medically 
indicated.

This protocol will be available at sites in the following 
cities:

Atlanta (2 sites), Austin, Berkeley (CA), Boston (2 sites), 
Chicago (2 sites), Dallas, Detroit, Encino (CA), Houston (3 
sites), Los Angeles (3 sites), Miami, New Orleans, New York 
(5 sites), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Roswell Park (NY), San 
Diego, San Francisco (4 sites), Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, 
and Washington, DC. Also, in a limited number of cases, the 
drug will be available to patients elsewhere, through their 
physicians.

Liposome Technology, Inc., which is developing DOX-SL, will 
make the drug available without charge. However, it will not 
pay for infusion costs or other expenses.

For more information about this study, which is called 
protocol 30-25, physicians will be able to call 800/KAPOSIS. 
(Note: On December 16, as we go to press, this number has not 
yet been connected. Also, some of the above sites will start 
the new protocol in January -- or in a few cases, in February 
-- because they are waiting for approval from their 
Institutional Review Board.)


***** Wasting Syndrome: Human Growth Hormone Becoming 
      Available-- Treatment IND

On December 20, the FDA approved a program to make human 
growth hormone available to persons with AIDS-related wasting 
syndrome, before full marketing approval for this indication; 
the drug should be available under this program by mid 
January. Wasting syndrome is a frequent cause of death of 
persons with AIDS. Human growth hormone has shown 
considerable promise for treating this condition (see AIDS 
TREATMENT NEWS #205, August 19, 1994); an application for 
full approval may be submitted to the FDA in mid 1995.

The new program will allow Serono Laboratories, Inc., the 
company testing the drug for AIDS-related wasting, to charge 
to recover their cost for providing this expensive drug -- 
which can cost $150 per day for the initial treatment, though 
it may later be possible to reduce the dose. Serono has hired 
a reimbursement agency to help patients get paid by their 
insurance companies and other third-party payers, and will 
provide some drug without charge to those unable to pay.

The rules require that this program is available only to 
patients "who have tried a course of approved therapy with 
Megace and Marinol where the response has been determined to 
be poor and that continued treatment with those agents has 
been judged by the attending physicians to be of doubtful 
promise." There may be efforts to get this restriction 
removed. Megace and Marinol are both approved treatments for 
significant unexplained weight loss, but are widely regarded 
as unsatisfactory. 

To use Serono's human growth hormone (brand name Serostim 
(TM)), a physician must first qualify as a site with Serono. 
Later, less paperwork is required to add each individual 
patient. Physicians should begin the process by calling the 
Serostim Information Line, 800/714-AIDS (800/714-2437). 
Patients also can call this number for information.

Note:

Human growth hormone has been an approved prescription drug 
for years in the U.S. for treatment of growth-hormone 
deficiency in children. But it is tightly restricted to 
prevent abuse by athletes, and very few people with AIDS have 
been able to obtain it from either of the companies which 
have long marketed it in this country. Serono's version of 
the drug has been approved in 50 countries, but not in the 
U.S. It appears to have been easier to obtain the Serono drug 
through the treatment IND route, than to modify the 
restrictions on the drug already here.

AIDS treatment activists have made major contributions to the 
development and access to growth hormone; without their work, 
the drug would not have been available to patients for a long 
time. ACT UP/Golden Gate and Project Inform, and the San 
Francisco AIDS Foundation have taken the lead, and Mother's 
Voices, ACT UP/New York, Treatment Action Group (TAG), and 
AIDS Project Los Angeles have provided critical assistance.

ACT UP/Golden Gate has produced a flyer describing the 
treatment IND program; it will be updated as required. To 
obtain a free copy, call 415/252-9200, and leave your name 
and address, slowly, on the voicemail.

[Physicians and patients should know that another alternative 
for treating wasting syndrome, thalidomide, is currently in 
clinical trials. The ACT UP flyer on human growth hormone 
also includes information on thalidomide.]


***** ACT UP Fights for Breast Cancer Drug; Funeral 
      Procession Vs. Genentech

On December 5, AIDS, breast cancer, and lesbian activists 
joined forces to protest lack of access to a promising 
treatment for certain cancers. Because the protest target, 
Genentech, Inc. of South San Francisco, is housed in a number 
of widely-separated buildings, too far from each other to 
easily walk between, the protest took the form of a 15-car 
funeral procession which drove from San Francisco to 
Genentech, then went from building to building, with 
protesters getting out and picketing at each site. About 40 
people took part.

The treatment is a monoclonal antibody targeted against a 
receptor called HER/2-neu. Several patients have had very 
good results with the antibody when all other treatments have 
failed. However, the treatment only works for tumors which 
express the receptor excessively -- and finding out which 
patients could benefit requires a special test. According to 
Genentech, this test is available to physicians from Roche 
Biomedical Laboratories and others, independently of 
Genentech; according to breast-cancer activists, patients 
must be tested through Genentech in order to qualify for the 
company's trials and have a chance to receive the drug.

The protest concerned Genentech's lack of a compassionate use 
policy, and also lack of access to the test (to tell if a 
patient is likely to benefit from the drug). According to 
breast-cancer activists, a 40-year-old physician died after 
waiting so long for the test that it was too late to use the 
drug; according to Genentech, this is inaccurate, but given 
patient confidentiality, neither Genentech nor her physician 
can discuss it. Also, activists had been frustrated by 
difficulties in arranging appropriate meetings with the 
company.

We asked Genentech if it wanted to reply to a draft of this 
article, and received the following statement: "Genentech 
empathizes with these patients and has been in discussion 
with them regarding this issue. No final decision has been 
made at this time regarding compassionate use. However, 
Genentech's policy is to try to do the most good for the most 
patients as quickly as possible. This means timely and 
effective progress with clinical trials leading to approval. 
The HER-2 antibody is scheduled to begin in phase III trials 
in the first half of 1995."

Breast Cancer Action, based in San Francisco, has led the 
fight for access to the treatment. But its board decided not 
to sponsor this demonstration, which included plans for civil 
disobedience. Instead the demonstration was sponsored by the 
Breast Cancer Working Group of ACT UP/Golden Gate. As it 
turned out, there were no arrests; in fact, the activists 
praised corporate security as being well informed, low key, 
and inconspicuous.

The protest got good coverage on public radio, but otherwise 
received little media attention, because of another story in 
the news. At the same time as the demonstration, a mentally 
ill man walked into a bank in San Francisco with two fake 
grenades, and was shot and killed by police. Reporters left 
the Genentech protest to cover the bank violence, which 
immediately filled the newspapers and pushed other news 
aside. But Genentech learned that the issue will not go away; 
clearly its luck in avoiding feared publicity may not hold 
next time.

The HER/2-neu antibody, incidentally, has no role in AIDS 
treatment. The fact that many AIDS activists would fight for 
access to a drug which they cannot use personally reflects 
the close working relationship between AIDS and breast-cancer 
activists in San Francisco -- and points the way to the 
coalition work which will be increasingly important in the 
future.


***** "AIDS Coffee Klatch" Grassroots Political Organizing

by John S. James

December 20: The new Congress convenes in January, and most 
of its members have little background or involvement with 
AIDS. What happens to AIDS research, care, prevention, and 
human rights depends on whether members of Congress hear from 
VOTERS IN THEIR DISTRICTS that AIDS is important to them.

But so far the AIDS community has done poorly in grassroots 
organizing -- in helping the millions of people who care 
about AIDS to make their voices heard, by Congress, by city, 
state, and other officials, and in the media. Most 
Congressional offices almost never hear from their voters on 
AIDS. This must improve -- quickly.

We need communication groups -- relaxed, friendly, non-
competitive, personally rewarding -- that also send dozens of 
letters and calls from every meeting.

"Action alerts" from national organizations must be made 
easier for non-specialists to use. Organizations should test 
their alerts through informal focus groups -- asking people 
to actually write or call, and report where the obstacles 
are, while the organizer watches and listens without giving 
assistance.

The "AIDS Coffee Klatch" -- now being started by this writer 
and others -- is a model for combining political defense with 
social groups. The following explanation is from the 
voicemail we set up this week for outreach. Feel free to use 
this material (including the name AIDS Coffee Klatch) for 
your own efforts to support AIDS funding and human rights.

Note that this kind of organizing costs almost no money; 
funding is not required.

Voicemail Text:

Hello, welcome to AIDS Coffee Klatch. We are developing 
small, personal social groups which also write and call  
Congress, local officials, media, and others, to support AIDS 
funding and the human rights of people with AIDS and HIV. 
After the November elections, our community needs this kind 
of strength more than ever before.

To bypass this introduction and go directly to our action 
alerts and schedule of San Francisco meetings, press '1' on 
your telephone. To leave us a message, press '2'.

The central goal of AIDS Coffee Klatch is to create a kind of 
organizing which is MASS MOVEMENT READY -- graceful and 
workable enough to become part of everyday life, so it can 
spread to many thousands of people, not just to political 
specialists. A successful model could contribute decisively 
to a more livable future, a more livable world.

We base this work on four principles. These groups must:

(1) Combine POLITICAL work with PERSONAL AND SOCIAL needs. 
The same groups that send dozens of letters and calls from 
every meeting will also be relaxed, low-key social 
gatherings, places to meet people and develop friendships, to 
be aware of each other and ready to help in adversity.

(2) Be easy-going, low stress, non-competitive, without 
pressure to do more or guilt for not doing it. People write 
letters or make calls as individuals, when it feels right, 
not otherwise. There is no need to fight over policy, since 
the group does not take positions on issues. Instead, 
individuals support the issues they feel comfortable with -- 
and pass when they don't. Anyone can bring their own AIDS 
issues to the group.

(3) Work with high-quality action alerts -- and insist that 
AIDS policy organizations deliver high quality. Action alerts 
must speak to everyone, not just Washington insiders. They 
must reflect solid research, strategic thinking, a sense of 
timing, and widespread community consensus. They must 
accurately portray the thinking of both sides, including our 
opponents -- and show why our position benefits the public as 
a whole, as well as people with AIDS. And action alerts must 
be clear, explicit, and complete about whom you can write or 
call, how to do it, and what points are most important to 
communicate.

(4) Work in coalition -- with other organizations, other 
causes and interests, and other communities.

For More Information

Call our voicemail at 415/241-1568.


***** The New Congress: Call for Information

National AIDS organizations are hurrying to find out about 
the new members of Congress. Have they had any involvement 
with AIDS, or with other health issues? Are they likely to be 
friendly, hostile, or indifferent? What issues of any sort 
are most important to them?

If you have such information about your representatives or 
other members of Congress, especially the new members, you 
can help by calling some or all of the organizations listed 
below. The best way to make sure the information gets to 
those who need it would be to fax it to all of them.

AIDS Action Council (AAC): Call 202/986-1300, ext. 47, or fax 
to 202/986-1345.

Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF): Call Winnie Stachelberg, 
202/628-4160, or fax to 202/347-5323.

Mobilization Against AIDS (MAA ): Call Ben Carlson, 415/863-
4676, or fax to 415/863-4740.

National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA): Contact 
Lisa Ragain, 202/898-0414, ext. 11, or fax to 202/898-0435.

National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC): Call 202/544-1076, or 
fax to 202/544-0378.

Project Inform's Treatment Action Network (TAN): Call Tom 
Wonsiewicz, Anne Donnelly, or David Lewis at 415/558-8669, or 
fax to 415/558-0684.

The Sheridan Group: Call Tom Sheridan, 202/462-7288, or fax 
to 202/483-1964.

THE WASHINGTON BLADE (gay newspaper), Call 202/797-7000, or 
fax to 202/797-7040 (fax or mail preferred).

And if you know of other national groups that are actively 
working with Congress on AIDS issues, call us, AIDS Treatment 
News, 800/TREAT-1-2. (There are also important local and 
regional groups, but too many for our short list.)


***** Activist Groups, Buyers' Clubs, and PWA Coalitions, 
      U.S. and Canada 

Updated December 1994

The following is a directory of AIDS activist groups, buyers' 
clubs, and PWA coalitions. It includes local and regional 
contacts for individuals who want to get involved with AIDS 
activism or for those seeking experimental treatments or 
community support services. We called these numbers and 
listed only those we could verify; some are home telephones, 
not offices. Within states, the listings are alphabetical.

[Note: Since 1990 AIDS TREATMENT NEWS has published a list of 
ACT UP chapters, PWA coalitions, and buyers' clubs. In the 
future, we may focus on grassroots-organizing groups which 
help people write or call their political representatives, 
other officials, and media.]

For information about new ACT UP affiliates, call the ACT UP 
Network, 215/731-1844. For new PWA coalitions, call the 
National Association of People Living With AIDS (NAPWA), 
202/898-0414. If you know of organizations which you think 
should be included in next year's directory, please call AIDS 
Treatment News at 800/TREAT-1-2.

Remember that there are well over ten thousand AIDS 
organizations in the U.S. alone; only a few can be included 
in this specialized list. To find out about services and 
organizations in your area, call the National AIDS Hotline, 
800/342-AIDS, 24 hours a day; for the same information in 
Spanish, call 800/344-SIDA, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time, 7 
days a week.


The classifications are:
"A" -- political activist and direct action groups;
"B" -- buyers' clubs for alternative or experimental 
treatments;
"C" -- coalitions and community networks organized by and for 
people living with AIDS.

ALABAMA
Birmingham   Birmingham AIDS Outreach   205/322-4197   C
Huntsville   AIDS Action Coalition   205/533-2437   C
ARIZONA
Phoenix   The Arizona Human Rights Fund   602/530-1660   A
Phoenix   Community AIDS Council   602/265-2437   B,C
Phoenix   Phoenix Body Positive   602/264-7414   C
Tucson   La Frontera Center  602/741-2351   C
Tucson   PACT for Life   602/770-1710   A,B,C
CALIFORNIA 
Long Beach   Being Alive Long Beach   310/434-9022   C
Los Angeles   ACT UP/Los Angeles   213/669-7301   A
Los Angeles   Being Alive   213/667-3262   C
Oakland   ACT UP/East Bay   510/568-1680   A
Orange County   ACT UP/Orange County   714/253-0185   A
Orange County    Being Alive Orange County   714/362-5483   C
Redondo Beach   Being Alive South Bay   310/544-2702   C
Sacramento   ACT UP/Sacramento   916/944-1479   A
San Diego   Being Alive San Diego   619/291-1400   C
San Francisco   ACT UP/Golden Gate   415/252-9200   A
San Francisco   ACT UP/San Francisco   415/292-4055   A
San Francisco   Healing Alternatives   415/626-2316   B
San Mateo   San Mateo County AIDS Program   415/573-2385   C
Santa Barbara   ACT UP/Santa Barbara   805/569-3299   A
Santa Barbara   CFIDS Buyers' Club   800/366-6056   B
Van Nuys   Being Alive   818/908-3840   C
Ventura   The Unity Pride Coalition   805/650-9546   A
West Hollywood   Being Alive   310/358-2281   C
COLORADO
Denver   PWA Coalition Colorado   303/837-8214   B, C
CONNECTICUT
Bethel   AIDS Project Greater Danbury    203/778-2437   C
New Haven   ACT UP/New Haven   203/732-2229   A
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington   ACT UP/Washington   202/328-7965   A
Washington   Carl Vogel Center   202/289-4898   B
Washington   Lifelink   202/547-7813   C
FLORIDA
Clearwater   AIDS Coalition Pinellas   813/449-2437   C
Dade County   PWA Coalition   305/573-6010   C
Daytona Beach   Outreach Inc.   904/672-6069   C
Fort Lauderdale ACT UP/Ft. Lauderdale 305/764-7670   A
Fort Lauderdale   Health Link   305/565-8284   B, C
Fort Lauderdale   PWA Coalition Broward   305/565-9119   C
Fort Lauderdale   Wholesale Health   305/764-1587   B
Havana   ACT UP/North Florida   904/539-0968   A
Jacksonville   PWA Coalition   904/398-9292   C
Miami   ACT UP/Miami   305/787-1131   A
Miami   Body Positive   305/576-1111   C
Miami   Cure AIDS Now   305/375-0400   C
Miami   PWA Coalition   305/573-6010   C
Orlando   LUCHA   407/933-4482   A, B, C
Palm Beach   PWA Coalition   407/655-3322   C
Sarasota   AIDS Manasota   813/954-6011   B,C
Tampa   DACCO   813/223-4648   C
Tampa   PWA Coalition Tampa Bay   813/238-2887   C
GEORGIA
Atlanta   ACT UP/Atlanta   404/874-6782   A
Atlanta   AIDS Survival Project   404/874-7926   C
Atlanta   Atlanta Buyers' Club   404/874-4845   B
Macon   The Rainbow Center   912/750-8080   C
HAWAII
Honolulu   PWA Coalition   808/948-4792   C
ILLINOIS
Chicago   ACT UP/Chicago   312/509-6802   A
Chicago   Chicago Women's AIDS Project   312/271-2070   C
Chicago   Test Positive Aware Network   312/404-8726   C
Peoria   Friend's of PWA's   309/671-2144   C
INDIANA
Indianapolis   The Damien Center   317/632-0123   C
IOWA
Davenport   AIDS Project Quad Cities   319/324-8638   C
Waterloo   Cedar AIDS Support System   319/292-2437   C
KENTUCKY
Louisville   KIPWAC   800/676-5490   C
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge   ACT UP/Capitol   504/343-3375   A
New Orleans   PWA Coalition   504/524-3488   C
MAINE
Portland   ACT UP/Portland Maine   207/828-0566   A
Portland   PWA Coalition   207/773-8500   C
MARYLAND
Baltimore   ACT UP/Baltimore   410/837-5203   A
Baltimore   AIDS Action Baltimore   410/837-2437   A
Baltimore   PWA Coalition   410/625-1677   C
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston   ACT UP/Boston   617/492-2887   A
Boston   Boston Living Center   617/236-1012   C
Boston   Committee of Ten Thousand   617/344-9634   C
Boston   Multi-Cultural AIDS Coalition 617/442-1622   C
Boston   Positive Directions   617/262-3456   C
Hyannis   Cape Cod AIDS Council   508/778-5111   C
Provincetown   ACT UP/Provincetown   508/487-3049   A
Provincetown   Provincetown Positive   508/487-3998   C
MICHIGAN
Detroit   ACT UP/Detroit   313/872-2427   A
Detroit   Friends Alliance   313/831-4400   C
Grand Rapids   AIDS Resource Center   616/459-9177   C
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis   The Aliveness Project   612/822-7946   C
MISSISSIPPI
Jackson   HIV/PWA Project   601/924-3333   C
MISSOURI
Kansas City   ACT UP/Kansas City   816/292-2811   A
St. Louis   ACT UP/St. Louis   314/771-4844   A
St. Louis   Positive Voices   314/771-6641   C
NEW JERSEY
Audubon   AIDS Coalition S. N. J.   609/573-7900   C
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque   NMAPLA   505/266-0342   C
Santa Fe   Northern NM AIDS Center   505/820-2437   A, C
NEW YORK
Albany   ACT UP/Albany   518/861-6337   A
Albany   Damien Center   518/449-7119   C
Albany   Student Coalition Against AIDS   518/432-9279   A,C
Buffalo   AIDS Alliance of Western NY   716/852-6778   C
Buffalo   ACT UP/Western New York   716/882-3958   A
Great Neck   ACT UP/Long Island   516/829-0810   A
Ithaca   ACT UP/Ithaca   607/272-2833   A
Long Island   PWA Coalition   516/225-5700   C
New York City   ACT UP/New York   212/564-2437   A
New York City   DAAIR   212/725-6994   B
New York City   New York AIDS Coalition   212/629-3075   C
New York City   PWA Coalition of New York   212/647-1415   C
New York City   PWA Health Group   212/255-0520   B
New York City   Treatment Action Group (TAG) 212/260-0300   A
Rochester   ACT UP/Rochester   716/328-5337   A
Utica   ACT UP/Utica   315/853-6418   A
NORTH CAROLINA
Research Triangle Park  ACT UP/Triangle   919/990-1197   A
OHIO
Cincinnati   ACT UP/Cincinnati   513/861-6171   A
Cleveland   ACT UP/Cleveland   216-621-2233   A
Columbus   Ohio AIDS Coalition (Statewide)   614/445-8277   C
OREGON
Milwaukie   CCARE   503/653-8738   A,C
Portland   Metro HIV Advocacy Council   503/284-6807   A,C
Portland  Positive People (Statewide) 503/223-6339 x-172  A,C
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia   ACT UP/Philadelphia   215/731-1844   A
Philadelphia   We The People   215/545-6868   C
Pittsburgh   Cry Out!/ACT UP   412/683-9741   A
SOUTH DAKOTA
Sioux Falls   ACT UP/South Dakota   605/332-3966   A
TENNESSEE
Memphis   Friends for Life HIV Res.   901/272-0855   C
Nashville   Nashville Cares   615/385-1510   C
TEXAS
Austin   AIDS Services of Austin   512/451-2273
Dallas   AIDS Resource Center   214/521-5124   C
Dallas   AIDS Services of Dallas   214/941-0523   C
Dallas   DBC Alternatives   214/528-4460   B
Galveston   AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas  409/763-2437   C
Houston   ACT UP/Houston   713/433-2924   A
Houston   PWA Coalition   713/522-5428   C
UTAH
Salt Lake City   PWA Coalition Utah   801/484-2205   C
VERMONT
Brattleboro   Vermont PWA Coalition   802/222-5123   C
WASHINGTON
Renton   ACT UP/South King County   206/226-3812   C
Seattle   ACT UP/Seattle   206/292-8766   C
Seattle   Seattle PCA   206/233-8048   B
Seattle   People of Color Against AIDS Netw.   206/322-7061 C
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown   Mountain State AIDS Network   304/292-9000   C
WISCONSIN
Madison   Madison AIDS Support Network   608/238-6276   C
Milwaukee   ACT UP/Milwaukee   414/769-8708   A
WYOMING
Casper   Wyoming AIDS Project   307/237-7833   C

CANADA

Halifax   Nova Scotia PWA Coalition   902/429-7922   C
London    London (Ontario) PWA Foundation   519/434-1601
Montreal   ACT UP/Montreal   514/527-2423   A
Montreal   CPAVIH   514/282-6673   A,C
Ottawa   Canadian AIDS Society   613/230-3580   C
Ottawa area   Canadian Nutrition Club   613/284-0076   B
Toronto   Toronto PWA Foundation   416/506-1400   C
Vancouver   Pacific AIDS Resource Center   604/681-2822   A,C
Victoria   PWA Society   604/383-7494   C



***** AIDS TREATMENT NEWS Selected Index
      Through December 23, 1994, Issue #213

3TC (lamivudine)    140,173,212
3TC+AZT  212 
566C80 (atovaquone)(Mepron)    133,139,160,164
accelerated approval    206
access vs. answers debate    205,207
acemannan    157,182
ACT UP    146,147,165,212,213
activism    130,147,151,164 188,212
acupuncture    130,157
acyclovir (Zovirax)    143,165,168,190,198,210
ADAP (see CA AIDS Drug Assistance Program)
AEGIS (computer)    191,212
African Traditional Medicine    166
AGM-1470    135,141,162. 188,195
AIDS Clinical Trials Information    210
AIDS Drug Interaction Guide    208
AIDS Hotlines    196
AIDS Patents    210
AIDS/HIV Forum (computer)    212
AIDSLINE    192
allergies    181
alpha APA    159,171
alpha interferon    154,155,179,185
alternative & traditional treatments    153,157,158,166
alternative treatment library    184,186,209
alternative treatment, NIH grant    209
anabolic steroids    166,187
anal cancer    184,203
angiogenesis inhibitors    117,122,135,141,195
angiomatosis    129
antioxidant    152
antisense    141,185,187
Antiviral Agents Bulletin    199
antivirals    158,164,200
aphthous ulcers  133,179
apoptosis    181
aspirin    109,118,183
ateviridine    183
ATIS    210
azithromycin (Zithromax)    132,133,136,139,152
AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir)    194,196,207,211,212
AZT/Perinatal Transmission    194,207
AZT/when to switch    196
Bactrim (co-trimoxazole, TMP-SMX)    147,152,161
basic science    199
Bastyr University    209
BBS (see computer bulletin boards)
bDNA    211    
benefits    74,76,105,144
beta carotene    134,158
beta-lapachone    174
BHAP    183
Biaxin (see clarithromycin)    190
bitter melon    155,157
blue-green algae (sulfolipids)    87,99
breast cancer    145,213
Bucast (Castanospermine Analog)    193
buyer's clubs    167,176,188,195,213
buyer's clubs, FDA policy    195
CA AIDS Drug Assistance Program    192,193,195,210
CAIN    191
camptothecin    197
cancer    122,126,135,139,162,174
capsaicin (Axsain, Zostrix)    121
castanospermine    193
CD8 expansion    151
cell transfer    207
cervical cancer    184
children/infants    130,174,210
Chinese medicine    61,68,71,75,93,107,126,153,158
clindamycin    79,104,108,111,129
clinical trials    116,141,144,149,154
CMV    167,168,171,179,189,190 
CMV Ig    168
codon 215    196
coenzyme Q-10 (ubiquinone)    26,119,124
cofactors    83,108,119,124
combination therapies    190,194,201,211,212
community-based research    65,66,83,85,105,143
compound Q (trichosanthin)    82,88,99,104,119,155
computer bulletin boards (BBS)    191
computerized information    114,116,124,154,165,191,212
Concorde Study    173,177
Congress     211
conocurvone    182
convergent combination therapy    170
cosalene    183
CPT-11 (irinotecan)    197
cryptosporidiosis    124,129,133,139,206
curcumin    174,176,177,198
d4T (stavudine)    166,185,198,200,201,202,203
daunorubicin, liposomal (DaunoXome)    117,122,174
ddC (HIVID)    150,154,155,166,167
ddC/AZT    115,132,145,150,154,167,201
ddI    141,149,150,160,166,167,185
ddI/ d4T    185 
ddI/AZT    167,168
delavirdine (BHAP)    183
dementia    97,101,156,171
depression    184
dermatology    197
desensitization    147,161,180
DHEA (EL 10)    48,49,84,140,150
diarrhea    133,141
diclazuril (Clinicox)    80,95,107,111
Dilantin    203
DNCB    14,116,157,182
doctor/patient relations    100,111
DOX-SL    184,195,208, 213
doxorubicin (Adriamycin)    73,122,174
drug interaction guide    208
e-mail    172
elections    211
eosinophilic folliculitis (EF)    161,197
EPO (erythropoietin)    82,150
ethics    208
ethyloxime 25    181
etoposide (VP-16)    73,122,149,168
exercise therapy    157
expanded access    212
fatigue    184
FDA    180,195,205,206,207,208    
FDA,accelerated approval    206
FDA,import policy    195
Federal Biotech. Transfer Dir.    199
fetal tissue research    164
FIAU    129,133
flu shots    138,185,187
foscarnet (Foscavir)    129,133,136,138,168
free AIDS databases (online)  192
funding research    201
funding/lobbying    151,156,157,173,174,190
G-CSF (Neupogen)    122,167
ganciclovir (DHPG,Cytovene)    167,168
ganciclovir eye implants    167
garlic/cryptosporidiosis    206
gastrointestinal manifestations/HIV    133
Gebbie, Christine-interview    203
GEM-91    185
gene therapy    158,190,199,207
Genentech    213
Glaxo    212
Global AIDS Action Network(GAAN)    187,191,201
glutathione    88,92,93,119,121,152,157,187
glycyrrhizin    17,103,115,181
GM-CSF    87,93,94,105,108,110,122,167
gp120 (vaccine)    130,149,174
gp160 (vaccine)    130,152,174,183,185
grassroots organizing    203,208,213
HandsNet (computer)    212
health care politics    132,135,136,137,179,192,203
hearing    171
HemaCare    209
hemophilia    89,102,103,132,137
heparin,substitutes    100,122,146,201
high-tech unexpected (strategy)  190
HIV RNA    190,194,204,206,209,210,211
HIVIG (HIV hyperimmune globulin)    153,154,158
HPMPC    76,96,149,190
HPV (see human papilloma virus)
human growth hormone    187,205,209,213
human papilloma virus (HPV)    146,203
Human Retroviruses Conference review    190
Humatin (paromomycin)    107,111,129
hydroxyurea    178,211
hypericin    125,138,141,146,155,167,168
hyperimmune milk (colostrum)    49,95,107
IL-2    122,186
immigration politics    128,129,134,150,170,177,208
immune globulin (IVIG)    152,154,168
immune restoration    151,169,200
Immune-based therapy    190
immunology book    203
import policy    195
insect bites    197
insurance    74,76,120,136,173,192,193
interactions (drug)    208
interferons    122,132,151
interleukins (IL-2,etc.)    119,122,151,186
international edition,    155,159,173
international organizing    201
international travel    128,152
Internet    212
irinotecan    197
Isis 2922    187
Isis 5320    194
isoprinosine    106
itchy skin    197
itraconazole (Sporanox)    80,96,161
IVIG    148,153,154,168
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)    174,184,185,188,195,196,197,208,213 
Kaposi's Sarcoma report    204
ketotifen    158
L- carnitine    183
L524    184,191,194,201
L735,524 (see L524)
lamivudine (see3TC)
latent HIV infection    206
Legal Rights...HIV+ HCW's    192
letrazuril    133
life insurance    193
liposomal doxorubicin    184
lipsomal daunorubicin    168
living benefits    193
lobbying,Washington,D.C.    197
long-term survival    175,178
LTR inhibitors    174,190,192,195,196
lymph nodes    172,182,206
MAI/MAC    149,152,158,188
marijuana    131,133,139,141,148,156,190,204,206
Marinol    131,133,141,148
maternal transmission / HIV    194,207,209
MediCal    204
medical research funding    163
Megace (megestrol acetate)    76,77,133,150,183
melittin    181
Mepron    123,133,139,164
microsporidiosis    129,133,139
molluscum contagiosum    133
MSL-109    168
mycoplasma    95,108,124,129
N-of-one trials    153
NAC    88,152,157,184,197
nanoparticles    181
National Library of Medicine    192
National Task Force (drug dev'p)    188,193,196,210
nausea    131,139,141
Neupogen   (G-CSF)    122
neurological disorders    171
neuropathy    121,130,156
NeuTrexin    190
nevirapine    170,211
NF-kB (NF-kappa B)    187,188
nutrition    141,152,158,163,181,204,205,208
octreotide (Sandostatin)    58,95,127,141
off-label insurance coverage    192
Office of AIDS Research (OAR)    193
on-line computer systems    154,165,191,212
p24 antibody    100,119,194
p24 antigen    100,119,194
pain medication    154
Paris AIDS Summit    210
passive immunotherapy    148,149,151,158,165,209
Patent Trademark Office (PTO)    210
patents    199,208
pathogenesis    147,156,206
patient / doctor relations    100,111
patient drug assistance programs    186,192,195
PCR    62,144,186
pediatric drugs    210
pentoxifylline (Trental)      133,145,156,158,185
Peptide T    84,119,126,178,201
perinatal transmission    207
pharmacies    64,86
phenytoin    203
photodermatitis    197
physician interviews    171,175,176,179,184,186,189,192,200
PMEA    156
PML    79,88,100,115,129,153,156,201
Pneumocystis carinii (PCP)    129,139,147,180
political funerals    157,160
political organizing    211,213
poppers    160,187
prednisone    150
pregnancy    90,112,153,154,194,207
prescription drug assistance    186,192,195
Primary HIV infection    191
prisons    106,125,126,130,149,151,161
Project Inform    213
prophylaxis/prevention    114,119,123,129,158,161
propolis    37
proposition 187    208
protease inhibitors    190,191,193,194,198,199,201,209,210
psychological health    161
PWA Coalitions    213
recombinant human growth hormone    187,205,209,213
recombinant platelet factor 4 (rPF4)    185,195
reimbursement    192
research policy   190,191,199,200,201,203,205,206,207,208,211
research strategy (see alsoHIV RNA)    190,210
resistance    211
resources,lists    143,144,145,167,170,208
rheumatoid arthritis    193
ribavirin    141
ribozymes    171
rifabutin (Ansamycin)    53,79,109,129,149,158,160
rimantadine    187
RNA (see HIV RNA)
Ro 24-7429 (tat inhibitor)    141,142,153,166,196
Ro 31-8959    193
Ryan White Funding    212
Saag,Michael-interview    201
Salk vaccine (HIV)    98,130
Sandostatin (octreotide)    58,95,127,141
saquinavir    201
scabies    98,197
sci.med.aids (computer)    191
SEARCH Alliance    198
Septra (co-trimoxazole,TMP-SMX)    114,123,129,147,152,161
shiitake    19
Sjogren Syndrome    181
skin disorders / HIV    197
Social Security guidelines    144
SP-PG    135,141,195
sparfloxacin    129,132,152
speech    171
SPIRAT grants    207
staphylococcal skin infections    197
steroids    114,115,133,150,166,187
strategy of hope    211
sulfa desensitization (Septra)  161,180
sulfadiazine    79,93,104,108,129,168
sulfolipids (blue-green algae)    87,99
sunlight   58,124,161
surrogate markers    119,144,204,209
survival, long term    178
systemic diseases    197
tat inhibitors   142,153,166,167,174,187,188,193,196,197,210
technology transfer    199
tecogalan (SP-PG)    195
thalidomide  179
THF (thymic humoral factor)    151,168
thymomodulin    202,203
thymopentin (TP5)    123,149,168,202
thymosin alpha 1    194
Title II    210
TNP-470    162,188,195
topotecan    174,178,197
TPN feedings    133,204,208
travel     152
treatment hotlines    196,210
treatment information sources    162
treatment outlook,1994    190
Trental (pentoxifylline)  133,145,156,158,185
trimetrexate and leucovorin    49,52,108,190
tuberculosis    106,161
tumor necrosis factor,antibody    193
turmeric (curcumin)  174,176,177
ultraviolet light    161
United Nations    191
vaccines    130,149,151,152,164,174,185
Vagelos,Roy-interview    198
viatication    173,193
viral load    209,211
vitamin A    134,158,185
vitamin B     134,152,158
vitamin B-12    158,171
vitamin C    111,152,157,158
Vpr ( viral protein )    212
wasting/weight loss    166,187,205,213
women    111,112,115,118,130,153,154,194,207
yohimbine    158,159,166
Zerit (d4t)    198,200,201,203
zinc    134,158
Zovirax (acyclovir)    108,115,132,133,143,165

***** AIDS TREATMENT NEWS
      Published twice monthly

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   P.O. Box 411256
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Editor and Publisher:
   John S. James
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   Thom Fontaine
   Tadd Tobias

Statement of Purpose:
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS reports on experimental and 
standard treatments, especially those available now. We 
interview physicians, scientists, other health 
professionals, and persons with AIDS or HIV; we also 
collect information from meetings and conferences, 
medical journals, and computer databases. Long-term 
survivors have usually tried many different treatments, 
and found combinations which work for them. AIDS 
Treatment News does not recommend particular 
therapies, but seeks to increase the options available.

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ISSN # 1052-4207 

Copyright 1994 by John S. James.  Permission granted for 
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