Saw an ad in the subway this morning for a drug called Egrifta (link.)

The basic gist was that it helps you cut down on HIV-related belly fat.

Huh?

Is it just me, or is something wrong with society when we're at a point where we're no closer to curing AIDS (or any other of the big-name diseases) then we were 30 years ago, but hey- no reason why you can't have a slim waistline while you're dying of it! Assume that you work in R&D for a pharmaceutical company. How bored do you have to be to even think of this?

The worst part is that it's apparently covered by some insurance plans.

 

Gotta keep dat sex appeal

 

Because it ain't about a cure, it's about making money. If you cure someone, they no longer need your drugs. And appearances are everything these days. No talent? No problem, the PR machine will make you look good, and we'll all make buckets of money.

 

Fine, so invent a drug that completely suppresses the effects of the disease for as long you take it. It would be like chemotherapy, only effective. That's be the best seller of all- you can keep on living (and buying the drug) for as long as you want!

 

We're MUCH closer than 30 years ago. 30 years ago it was a death sentence. Now it's just more of an inconvenience. We've made huge jumps. Don't expect a cure for AIDS, cancer, or the flu. They constantly changing diseases that don't (won't) have a single cure to work for any of them completely.

 

NSFW:

 

There is a link between belly fat (even if you're normal weight) and shorter lifespan..

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...ith-longevity/

 

The point isn't the cure. It's how much you can raise.

 

Is like to handle the marketing campaign for this product. Lol

 

Magic Johnson still alive and kicking.

 

The south park episode where he injects shredded cash into his veins to stay alive is one of my favorites.

 

Curly pretty much summed it up about the virus being an inconvenience. I have a few friends who are positive and living normal lives. I would guess the hardest thing for them is dealing with the public's lack of knowledge or misconceptions.

 

We're basically there. The average American 20 year old who contracts HIV can expect to live to the age of 67, assuming they take the right meds.

 

Joe if it makes you feel better, drug companies no longer have any incentive to invent new, quality antibiotics. No profit.

And the ones we have now are becoming less and less effective because all the dipshits in our country insist on eating antibiotic-fed pork, chicken, and beef because it's "cheaper".

 

So much money in people that are just a little sick. Medicate them and profit. After all we are only animals that evolved, right? So who cares if people die if you can profit from them because they are animals. Let's build a concrete breast cancer building and devote an entire month and a ribbon to promoting donations to--no don't cure it that will stop the money flow. . ..

 

uuughgggghhhh marylander. i feel uncomfortable. good for your friends though. sigh