Gold can revitalise old HIV drug

Scientists have discovered that a new addition to an old discarded drug can help fight the HIV virus.

A team from the North Carolina State University found that adding small particles of gold to the TAK-779 drug can help to block the virus' entry to the immune system.

The scientists did tests using a modified version of TAK-779, without an ammonium salt compound which had been found to create harmful side effects.

By attaching the new version of the drug to a nanoparticle of gold, the ability of the drug to prevent HIV infection in cells remained effective.

Dr Christian Melander, assistant professor of chemistry at the university, said: "We've discovered a non-harmful way to improve the strength and efficacy of an important drug.

"There's no reason to think that this same process can't be used with similar effect on other existing drugs."

In the early 1990s, the ammonium salt within TAK-779 was found to cause side effects. Discovery News reports that previous attempts to take out the salts from the compound removed the drug's power to fight HIV.