Q and A

Question

Can the anti-cancer drugs, gemcitabine and decitabine kill HIV?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center have used mice to test whether gemcitabine and decitabine kill HIV. HIV is a virus that mutates, or evolves very quickly. These two drugs together speed up this process which causes the HIV to mutate and change so much that it cannot survive. Both drugs are already FDA approved for use on cancer but are not yet available for use on HIV.

The findings so far are that these medications do kill HIV in mice. However, this has not yet been tested in people. The researchers will have to prove that it is safe for humans and study it for several years before it will be available to the general public for HIV.

There are already over 25 drugs licensed to treat HIV that are very effective and safe.

For more information please follow this link

2 comments

  1. Charlotte Walker

    Dear Dr Tiago,
    Thank you for forwarding on this information. Some of the drugs in this link are repeated and others are no longer recommended for use in the UK.
    Best wishes
    Charlie

  2. Dr. Tiago

    As a matter of fact, there are 32 drugs available:

    http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv_and_aids/hiv_treat.html

    Best regards,
    Dr. Tiago.

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