Studying the Impact of "Medicine of the Future"

The OSU Division of Infectious Diseases engages in a wide spectrum of clinical and basic research sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. These include Phase 1 to 3 clinical trials of anti-infective agents and vaccines.

Use of these agents, which are not yet marketed, gives both patients and investigators exposure to "medicine of the future". Such therapeutic or pharmacologic studies are selected to meet patient and investigator needs and research interests.

Recent pharmaceutical industry-supported trials include:

• Phase 2 and 3 trials of tipranavir, an experimental HIV protease inhibitor, for drug resistant HIV infections;
• the Phase 3 trial of VaxGen's gp120 HIV vaccine in high risk gay men;
• the Phase 2 study of Merck's combination DNA plus adenoviral vector HIV vaccine in low risk subjects; and
• a pharmacokinetic study of plasma and intracellular drug levels of abacavir (nucleoside analogue-used BID for HIV infections), when dosed every 24 hours.
• A Phase 4 study of lamivudine dosed every 24 hours vs. every 12 hours was also performed to give uninsured patients access to free medication and laboratory.

Contact:

Michael F. Para, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular
Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics
N. 1143 Doan Hall
410 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: (614) 293-5666
E-mail: para.1@osu.edu