Opportunistic Infection Project Launched by ACT UP/New York: "Countdown 18 Months"

Most of the opportunistic infections identified with AIDS
are considered treatable to some degree. But in nearly every
instance, the treatments are limited by their side effects or
their unreliability for obtaining a consistent response,
especially against recurrent infections. Research into better
drugs for opportunistic infections has never approached the
intensity of attention or funding afforded to research in primary
HIV infection.

A campaign to find safer and truly definitive treatments,
within a year and a half, for five of the most lethal AIDS-
related infections has been inaugurated by ACT UP/New York. This
project, dubbed "Countdown 18 Months," was formally launched
November 12 during the latest session of the AIDS Clinical Trials
Group (ACTG).

The idea was first proposed by Garance Franke-Ruta, and
developed by her with fellow members of ACT UP/New York's
Treatment and Data Committee. Motivating the campaign are two
well-founded assertions:

* A dramatic advance in controlling HIV progression is
inevitable, but it may develop too far in the future to prevent
many currently asymptomatic seropositives from progressing to
symptoms. And it is not of immediate use to thousands of people
already battling secondary opportunistic infections.

* The resources now exist with which to replace the
haphazard "aim and wince" handling of opportunistic infections,
and 18 months is not an unrealistic span in which to mobilize
these resources.

A crucial condition for the success of this project will be
the development of effective working relationships with persons
in pharmaceutical companies and government agencies.

The five infections targeted by Countdown 18 Months are
pneumocystis pneumonia, CMV retinitis and colitis, toxoplasmosis,
MAI, and the fungal infections -- cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis
and candidiasis. A 44-page planning document distributed by ACT
UP/New York describes the rationale and goals of the plan; it
also includes an in-depth look at existing treatments for these
infections, experimental treatments now being tried, ways to
obtain experimental treatments, reference for more information,
and a select contact list of persons involved in AIDS research.

Requests for copies of The Countdown 18 Months Plan can be
sent, with a small donation if possible, to ACT UP/New York, c/o
Countdown, 135 W. 29th St., 10th floor, New York, NY 10001.
Information regarding how to work on the Countdown project can be
obtained from Garance Franke-Ruta, 212/532-0280 or 212/675-5170,
or from Derek Link, 212/529-2368 or fax, 212/529-5997.