Firms ‘dragging feet in search for HIV cure’
What you need to know:
- Mr Moses Nsubuga from Uganda, who has had HIV for the past 21 years, says the Aids cure would be a welcome relief for him and others with the chronic illness.
DURBAN, South Africa
Researchers and people infected with HIV have accused pharmaceuticals of dragging their feet in getting a cure for the virus.
They said had the companies shown interest and commitment to addressing the disease that has killed over 35 million so far, the cure would be in sight.
They said pharmaceuticals know that if they found a cure, it would be a one-off cost, and choose instead to make profits from antiretroviral drugs, which are required for life.
Mr Moses Nsubuga from Uganda, who has had HIV for the past 21 years, says the Aids cure would be a welcome relief for him and others with the chronic illness.
“They are in a position to know about the drug mixture because they are in the field and in conjunction with the researcher’s efforts, our worries of a vaccine will be sorted,” he said.
The medics and researchers attending the 21st Aids conference in Durban, South Africa, called for an increase in investment in the search for an HIV cure to give hope to millions of those infected.
Nobel Laureate Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, co-chair of the International Aids Society; Towards an HIV Cure Initiative, said that funding could boost growing scientific interest.
