Drug offers new hope

There is new hope for HIV patients who have literally run out of time when it comes to treating their condition effectively. On Jan. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved entravirine, an antiretroviral or anti-HIV medication that helps block an enzyme needed for HIV to multiply.

Dr. Simon Paul is the director of Community's special services HIV/AIDS program.

“It’s for patients who have exhausted all of their other options,” said James Nicacio, who is HIV positive. Nicacio is a positive advocate who volunteers his time to help those newly diagnosed with HIV and AIDS at Community Medical Centers’ special services.

With its approval, patients with a resistance to the current medications available now have another option.

“You have patients who are taking medicines that are not working, and there’s nothing to offer them. [It’s] frustrating,” said Dr. Simon Paul, director of the special services HIV/AIDS program. 

One patient at Community has already been on the medication, and according to Dr. Paul, has been successful with it. 

“When two or three new medicines come out, you can suddenly turn somebody from taking a lot of medicines, being sick, being in and out of the hospital from complications and suddenly they’re on two or three new medicines that work,” Dr. Paul said. “Their immune systems build themselves back up and they’re doing fine. It’s just amazing to see. It’s just night and day in how some patients are doing.”

Nicacio said he has not had drug resistance problems but that it is a common issue for patients. “I’ve been lucky and pretty successful with the drugs I’m on,” Nicacio said.

Currently, more than 600 people in Fresno County are HIV positive, according to the county’s yearly report of sexually transmitted diseases. Community’s Special Services HIV/AIDS program is the largest provider of primary care, social service and support for people in the Valley living with HIV and AIDS.

“Advancement with HIV drugs is growing so fast that it’s giving lots of people the opportunity to live longer lives,” Nicacio said. “But it’s still not easy.”

Dr. Paul still hopes for a cure for the virus and believes with new innovative ideas and research it may one day be possible.

“What everyone wants is some way to eradicate the virus. And if not eradicate it, maybe find medicines to train the immune system to control it.”

This story was reported by Millie Tang. She can be reached at mtang2@communitymedical.org.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008