§ Mr. RostTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the research conducted by Dr. Robert Gallo in the United States of America relating to the identification of the human B-lymphotropic virus as a possible co-factor necessary for HIV to cause AIDS, is being assessed as part of his AIDS research programme.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe AIDS research programme funded from the science budget is run by the Medical Research Council and it is for the council to make scientific judgments on the content of the programme. I understand that British research has included the possibility that human B-cell lymphotropic virus (human herpes virus 6) might be a co-factor necessary for HIV to cause AIDS. The initial results do not support the contention.
§ Mr. RostTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been carried out into the formulation known as AL 721 active lecithin as a means of de-activating the HIV virus.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Medical Research Council is not conducting such research. I understand that studies that have been carried out under the other auspices have produced conflicting results on both the safety and the activity against HIV of this formulation.
§ Mr. RostTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to sponsor trials into the application of AL 721 active lecithin as part of the AIDS research programmes, in view of evidence of its potential for protection against viral activity via the enhancement of cell membrane defences.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe AIDS research programme funded from the science budget is run by the Medical Research Council and it is for the council to make scientific judgments on the contents of the programme. I understand that the council plans no trials of AL 721 active lecithin. Preliminary results should shortly be available from a small trial under other auspices.