Scientists from Parker Hughes Cancer Center reported that stampidine is the first single agent to be safe and effective in treating cats chronically infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV. That's significant because FIV in cats is similar to HIV in humans. It is hoped that advances in the treatment of FIV can be translated to the treatment of HIV.

During the study cats treated with stampidine had their viral FIV loads reduced. At higher doses stampidine eliminated FIV in cats with no side effects. Current anti-AIDS drugs AZT and 3CT are not effective alone in treating FIV. "We are cautiously optimistic that stampidine will prove to be more effective against HIV than currently available drugs because it is proving to be more effective than current drugs in the feline model," said Dr. Fatih Uckun, Medical Director of Parker Hughes Cancer Center.

"There is still much work that needs to be done but if these results can be translated to the treatment of AIDS it will offer renewed hope to AIDS patients who are resistant to currently available drugs," Uckun added. Parker Hughes scientists are encouraged by earlier studies that show stampidine to be 100 to 1000 times more effective against HIV than it is against FIV.