Many steps towards finding a cure for the hideous disease that causes AIDS, HIV have been achieved over the past 10 years. A vaccine for HIV has already been tested in Thailand. Despite only having 30% effectiveness it was a major breakthrough.
We've come a far way, from the days of the GRIDS buzzword and Ryan White, to today's partially effective treatments for HIV and AIDS. Survivability for those who suffer from both diseases has now increased to rates we never thought to dream about.
Yet there still is not a cure, there is no Vaccine. And it is the American Government who seems set to fix that issue.
Today it was announced that a antibody was found that neutralizes 91% of all HIV strains.
The antibodies were discovered in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, whose body made the antibodies naturally. Researchers screened 25 million of his cells to find 12 that produced the antibodies.
The most amazing part of the discovery is who made it. Not big pharma, not a charity lab nor any privately funded HIV research organization. No...It was...
U.S. government scientists have discovered three powerful antibodies, the strongest of which neutralizes 91% of HIV strains, more than any AIDS antibody yet discovered.
It was us, the US Government. That little thing that represents the people.
Republicans and Conservatives like to say the Government can't do anything, they make that little joke about the 9 scariest words being, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Yet, today it is thanks to OUR Government that we are on the path to possibly the most important medical discovery of this decade, a true cure for AIDS.
Within a couple years time a true working Vaccine could exist that could save millions of lives, not only here in America but around the world.
It seems that that Goverment which Republicans complain can't do anything has managed to do something that private industry over the past 30 years has not.
Hopefully this new antibody can be turned into a true vaccine for the millions who suffer from AIDS and HIV.