Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

What Is and Isn’t Needed in the HIV Market

Why not add NNVC to the cocktail mix mix for HIV? I know it's a LOOOOONG shot as things now stand, but in time, it may truly be the answer.

HIV can be well-treated by existing drug cocktails insofar as newly diagnosed patients who are started on antiretroviral treatment while their CD4 cell counts are still moderately high have a life expectancy almost as long as a person of the same age and sex without HIV! Hence, HIV therapy does not need an “answer” (your word). Rather, what HIV therapy needs are incremental improvements in:

• Tolerability, e.g. fewer CNS side effects such as the ones typically seen with Sustiva;

• Convenience, e.g. the advent of additional Atripla-like all-in-one pills; and

• Higher barriers to resistance so that patients do not have to change treatment regimens.

These are the kinds of improvements that real drug/biotech companies are focusing on in the HIV arena.