LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — A recent poll shows most people no longer consider AIDS a major health problem.
That’s despite the fact that more than an estimated one million Americans are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
As new infections continue to soar, could there be a cure on the horizon?
Fifteen years ago, AIDS-related illnesses were the number one cause of death.
But with recent medical breakthroughs, in 25 to 44 years olds today, it’s now the 6th leading cause of death.
Does this mean researchers are putting an end to AIDS?
Since the AIDS epidemic began in 1981, it has killed more than 30 million people worldwide
In the early years, the unknown virus was untreatable, feared and fatal. Often, those with it were discriminated against and ostracized from society.
But HIV-positive Steve Pieters says that, with the evolution of education — plus anti-viral drugs — a lot has changed in 32 years.
“I was the very first patient to go on the first anti-HIV drug in 1985,” he says.
Due to his weakened immune system, and like many who test positive for HIV, this minister also developed lymphoma, a cancer that affects the white blood cells.
“I did actually die and I had a near death experience and they were able to bring me back,” Pieters recalls.
Pieters says dying was not on his ‘”to-do” list, so he checked in to Duarte’s City of Hope, a facility nationally recognized for its biomedical research.
The experts there put Pieters on a life saving drug cocktail.
“My day is built around taking my medications. There are 30 drugs that keep me alive,” Pieters says.
“My goal was to stay along live enough for them to manage it and I did and I am still alive,” the Silver Lake man says.
With cutting edge gene therapy plus powerful pharmaceuticals, researchers consider this City of Hope patient living proof of what’s called a “functional cure.”
“With antiviral therapy life expectancy is 22 years of diagnosis,” says Daniela Castanotta, Ph.D, with the City of Hope.
A true medical miracle since in 1981, when most were only given three days to live.
“I was given eight months to live in 1984,” Pieters recalls. “They told me I wouldn’t’ live to see 985, so to see 2013 is a remarkable thing, a total miracle.”
City of Hope tells us they are looking for a true cure sometime in the next 20 years, if not sooner.
–Jessica Holmes, KTLA News
28 Comments to “Medical Miracle: A Cure for HIV on the Horizon?”
February 12, 2013 at 5:53 AM
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February 12, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Its true medicines have improved the chances of survival but ask the majority who are on the daily regimen and the one dream common would be no more daily meds and I sincerely hope its true and indeed a cure is around the Horizon.
February 12, 2013 at 6:50 AM
“My day is built around taking my medications. There are 30 drugs that keep me alive,” Pieters says.
I wouldn't call that living.
February 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM
Fuck u
February 12, 2013 at 8:58 AM
No thanks. I don't funk guys like you, hence why you have the HIV
February 12, 2013 at 9:01 AM
I agree with alex, Your ignorant Sal.
February 12, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Learn some grammar first before calling another person ignorant.
It's "you're"
F'n tard.
February 12, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Sal.. you little prick…
February 12, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Ann, quit jumping on ships
February 12, 2013 at 6:51 AM
In the meantime, these drugs are keeping these hosts alive to spread the disease to others.
February 12, 2013 at 7:55 AM
In the meantime we have to live with people like Sal in this world which is much much worse then living with people who have a virus that is not easily spread. My advise to Sal is to keep to himself, because the more you talk the stupider you sound. And I am sure any reply from him would be a bigoted unintelligent reply.
February 12, 2013 at 8:23 AM
Not easily spread? Are you stupid?
February 12, 2013 at 9:03 AM
Sal stfu! Let him fucking live his life and be happy without losers like you trying to bring him down.
February 12, 2013 at 10:05 AM
blow yourself, ann
February 12, 2013 at 1:30 PM
*advice
February 12, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Actually, the bulk of those on modern treatment see suppression of virus to such a low concentration that those being treated are effectively no longer contagious. The overwhelming majority of new infections are caused by people who don’t know their status. Check your facts.
February 12, 2013 at 8:56 AM
Stupid indeed
February 12, 2013 at 8:58 AM
Yes, you certainly are Alex
February 12, 2013 at 9:28 AM
I don't know why this story carries the headline it does. Irresponsible journalism. It's like a tabloid headline and the article says nothing about some new miracle cure that's been developed.
February 12, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Agreed.
February 12, 2013 at 11:32 AM
I'll bet some rare flower that grows on some South Pacific desert island or somewhere remote has the cure for AIDS and always has. And Big Pharma probably knows how to cure it, but why cure the disease and lose all the MONEY that can be made by keeping people alive on antiviral drugs for 20 years or more?
Think about it. FOLLOW THE MONEY. Curing AIDS is not profitable.
February 12, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Even if they develop a cure for HIV, people will still have to worry about the many other std's (some uncurable) like herpes, hepatitis c, that new strain of gonorrhea that they don't have a cure for, etc.
February 12, 2013 at 8:31 PM
AIDS is god's warning shot across the bow. Keep giving these filthy perverts their rights, and we haven't seen anything yet. Gay men are the most vile, filthy, disgusting creatures on earth. We seriously need to isolate them to their own society (island or desert), then they can do themselves to death.
February 13, 2013 at 11:32 PM
scottyboy is such a bloody moron. By putting gays on an island wont eliminate them. Gay people are born everyday, you dont just get rid of them. HIV is not exclusively a gay disease. Most of the people in the world who have it are straight. Should we kill them too? Maybe trash like you shouldnt exist on earth to spread hate. You probably havent even graduated from high school.. Moron!
February 14, 2013 at 2:36 AM
dnt b so afraid of this disease. it is common now a days.