HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 c598W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken in the United Kingdom on the effectiveness of anti-viral drugs in preventing or delaying the development of AIDS in people who are HIV positive; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The Medical Research Council is conducting a clinical trial to test whether zidovudine (formerly known as AZT) benefits healthy HIV positive people. In the MRC's view, no other drug is yet developed enough to justify a trial. The MRC directed programme aims to develop anti-viral drugs and vaccines to prevent or delay the development of AIDS in people infected with HIV.