# Is this a legitimate cure for HIV/AIDS?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 27, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845 "2013-09-27T23:23:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/1 "2013-09-27T23:23:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> New research by an international team finds that Ciclopirox, an antifungal cream used all over the world, completely eradicates HIV - the virus that leads to AIDS - in cultured cells, and the virus does not return when the treatment stops.
>
> The study also found Deferiprone, a systemic drug used to remove excess iron from the body in people who have beta-thalassaemia major, has the same effect.
>
> The researchers, including a team from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, write about their findings in a paper published online this week in the journal PLOS ONE.
Sep 27, 2013.
> **[HIV in cells eradicated with antifungal drug](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266683)**
>
> Ciclopirox, a topical antifungal drug, was found to trigger suicide in HIV-infected cells by blocking their mitochondria, the components that supply them with energy to function.
---
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/2 "2013-09-27T23:26:01Z")
Nothing is a cure until it’s gone through a long process of testing including multiple human trials.
Far too much works in the lab but doesn’t work in the body.
---
### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/3 "2013-09-27T23:31:10Z")
We can only hope
---
### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/4 "2013-09-27T23:33:05Z")
Another thread on the topic just came up in MPSIMS. To quote myself:
> [@Is this a cure for HIV?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cure-for-hiv/669711/11):
>
> My gut reaction is that ciclopirox might have substantial side effects if you dose it intravenously rather than topically. It is, after all, gumming up a fundamental piece of biochemistry. But maybe it could be added to the standard antiviral cocktails in a way that improves overall efficacy.
>
> It’s a long way from “we’ve got a mechanism that works in a dish” to treating patients. And “long way” can be quantified in years, hundreds of millions of dollars, and 99% failure rates.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/5 "2013-09-28T02:09:04Z")
It’s really, really easy to eradicate HIV from cultured cells. Bleach will do it, as will a variety of alcohols. Or high temperatures, or UV or other forms of radiation. Let me know when they can eradicate it in a living organism, without killing the organism.
---
### Author:  [@Sofis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofis)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/6 "2013-09-28T07:13:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> It’s really, really easy to eradicate HIV from cultured cells. Bleach will do it, as will a variety of alcohols. Or high temperatures, or UV or other forms of radiation. Let me know when they can eradicate it in a living organism, without killing the organism.
Given that “Healthy cells not infected with HIV were not affected”, I’d say comparing this to “treatments” of the “kill everything” variety is not terribly apt.
> [@lazybratsche](#):
>
> My gut reaction is that ciclopirox might have substantial side effects if you dose it intravenously rather than topically.
However, “The study also found Deferiprone, a systemic drug used to remove excess iron from the body in people who have beta-thalassaemia major, has the same effect.”
Since Deferiprone is known to be safe in humans, they’re going right ahead with human trials.
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/7 "2014-10-06T21:22:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> New research by an international team finds that Ciclopirox, an antifungal cream used all over the world, completely eradicates HIV - the virus that leads to AIDS - in cultured cells, and the virus does not return when the treatment stops.
There are number of new HIV vaccines that show good results in the lab , much better than old vaccine that did not work.But again new vaccine showing good results in lab may not work in real world.
I’m sure other members here that know more about this can say more.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/8 "2014-10-06T21:48:10Z")
This isn’t a vaccine. Vaccines are the medicine of choice against most viral diseases, but they don’t work too well against HIV, and even if they did, that doesn’t help people who already have AIDS, so they try to find other options too.
---
### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/9 "2014-10-07T02:31:01Z")
It’s promising but has a long way to go to be a “legitimate cure”. Just like dozens of candidates before now.
---
### Author:  [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/10 "2014-10-07T02:52:14Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> It’s really, really easy to eradicate HIV from cultured cells. Bleach will do it, as will a variety of alcohols. Or high temperatures, or UV or other forms of radiation. Let me know when they can eradicate it in a living organism, without killing the organism.
This is quite true, not just for HIV, but for literally every single infection we’re working on, so it’s probably safe to consider it as read in any discussion of infectious diseases.
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/11 "2014-10-07T04:16:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> This isn’t a vaccine. Vaccines are the medicine of choice against most viral diseases, but they don’t work too well against HIV, and even if they did, that doesn’t help people who already have AIDS, so they try to find other options too.
The articles I read said number of vaccines showing good results in the lab.But this may not do so well in testing phase.
I’m sure there are some members here that read more on this and know lot more on this and can elaborate.
---
### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/12 "2014-10-07T05:09:09Z")
> [@Sofis](#):
>
> Given that “Healthy cells not infected with HIV were not affected”, I’d say comparing this to “treatments” of the “kill everything” variety is not terribly apt.
**Chronos** ’s examples may not have been well chosen, but his underlying point remains good. There is a world of difference between something that works in a cell culture and something that will work at all, let alone work safely, in a living human being. There are probably already hundreds if not thousands of substances that act like this and that have already been investigated, fruitlessly. These findings may (perhaps) be worth following up on, but don’t be holding your breath.
---
### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/13 "2014-10-07T06:05:23Z")
Anybody count the number of “cures” for “cancer”?
Tens of thousands worked just fine in petri dishes…
On certain kinds of cells…
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/14 "2014-10-07T06:34:34Z")
> [@njtt](#):
>
> **Chronos** ’s examples may not have been well chosen, but his underlying point remains good. There is a world of difference between something that works in a cell culture and something that will work at all, let alone work safely, in a living human being. There are probably already hundreds if not thousands of substances that act like this and that have already been investigated, fruitlessly. These findings may (perhaps) be worth following up on, but don’t be holding your breath.
There is lot more progress in AIDS research now than the 90’s and breakthroughs now than the 90’s.So I would not be surprised in 5 years from now some thing comes out.
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/15 "2014-10-07T14:07:38Z")
Those large numbers have other implications, though. On the one hand, the fact that so many people are trying so many things with so much funding means that I wouldn’t be surprised to see a very good medicine (a cure, or a preventive, or a good, effective treatment) emerge in the next 5-10 years. On the other hand, also because of so much work being done, I’d be surprised if this particular promising lead ends up panning out: There are many promising leads, and most of them don’t.
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/16 "2014-10-12T23:24:49Z")
Has anyone read any of these articles on cure or vaccine?
I’m surprised more members here have not read up on these new cures or vaccine showing good results in the lab.
---
### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/17 "2014-10-12T23:34:58Z")
Plenty of things look good in the lab. I get notices about them when they advance to human trials, and when they fail in human trials.
---
### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/18 "2014-10-12T23:59:36Z")
Wouldn’t the problem be delivering the drug? If I remember correnctly, HIV can hide out in very difficult-to-reach places that just aren’t easy to deliver drugs to.
---
### Author:  [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/19 "2014-10-13T00:03:49Z")
> [@even\_sven](#):
>
> Wouldn’t the problem be delivering the drug? If I remember correnctly, HIV can hide out in very difficult-to-reach places that just aren’t easy to deliver drugs to.
It working good with animal testing.Next is to test it on people.
---
### Author:  [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845/20 "2014-10-13T01:29:50Z")
> [@sweat209](#):
>
> Has anyone read any of these articles on cure or vaccine?
>
> I’m surprised more members here have not read up on these new cures or vaccine showing good results in the lab.
How do you know that other Dopers haven’t kept up? We’ve even got some medical people here.
If so, they probably thought “Good, that looks interesting. Let’s see how the studies turn out.” But they thought starting a thread announcing a cure was a bit premature.
(However, there’s nothing wrong with starting a thread to ask a question.)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-cure-for-hiv-aids/669845.md?page=2)