Subject: Reaction to Duesberg

Reaction to Dr. Peter Duesberg's Theory That
HIV is Not the Cause of AIDS


See also "Retroviruses and Reality" in READING MATTER for details 
of Dr. Duesberg's theory.

Researchers spoken to for this piece have extremely high regard
for Duesberg and believe he raises appropriate, important questions
that deserve debate.

     Dr. Michael Lange, an infectious disease specialist at the St.
Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, says:

     "[Duesberg] is a very senior person in this field ... he's got a
very distinguised record in the retrovirus <27> field at least
to the early 70s if not late 60s, by many people he's considered a
much more senior person in the retrovirus field than Bob Gallo
<41> is ... When somebody of [Duesberg's] calibre writes a very
serious scientific paper coming up with a hypothesis that he feels
he cannot accept that, based on the present evidence, HIV <17>
by itself causes AIDS I think what we need is an open discussion.
But, we haven't seen this ... and that's what I cannot understand."

     Dr. Michael Davis, the director of clinical studies for the
Federal Centre for AIDS in Ottawa, says:

     "I personally have never said publicly ... that [HIV] causes
[AIDS].  I'm an agnostic in the sense that I look at the evidence for
anything no matter what it is... [HIV is] a working hypothesis for the
time being.  It might be more and more strongly confirmed as time goes
on.  It may be less and less confirmed.  Maybe, just maybe, it'll be a
red herring."

     Jim Warner is the senior policy analyst in the Office of Policy
Development in the White House. He's taking Duesberg seriously.

     "I remain unconvinced of whether or not HIV is the cause of
[AIDS]," he says.  "People get angry when I bring [Duesberg's
questions] up. People do not become angry over scientific fact.  The
fact that people get angry is, to me, a sign something is wrong ...
I'm troubled by the questions raised by Dr. Duesberg that are not
being answered by Dr. Gallo <41> or anyone else."

     The general feeling among researchers is that while Duesberg is
right to point to possible cofactors <11> in the search for an
AIDS cause he goes too far in dismissing HIV altogether.

     Dr. George Post is the vice president of worldwide research and
preclinical development for the SmithKline Beckman Corporation, a
multinational pharmaceutical house that is on the trail of an AIDS
vaccine.  Post recently did a comprehensive survey of AIDS studies to
determine if his firm was on the right track.

     Says Post:  "I think the central issue raised by Duesberg is how
can a virus that's apparently only present in such a small percentage of
cells really cause such profound damage in the immune system when you
should be able to replace that number of cells quite rapidly ... He's
gone so far as to say that HIV has nothing to do with AIDS at all.  I
certainly don't buy that."

      While Post is a strong believer that HIV causes AIDS, he thinks
that, paradoxically, the virus needs the help of a body's immune
system to cause death - that, in fact, the immune system is a
cofactor in causing AIDS. <11> In his view the syndrome's victims are the
losers of an immunological lottery.

      See <38> for Post's theory on autoimmune reactions and AIDS.

     Dr. Leonard Rosenthal is an associate professor of microbiology
and pediatrics at the Georgetown Medical Centre in Washington.  He
believes that there are a number of things about HIV as the sole cause
of AIDS that don't make sense.

      Rosenthal can't understand why female prostitutes can test AIDS
antibody positive <5> but rarely get AIDS while promiscuous male
homosexuals are at high risk <4>.  He believes that while HIV
is important in AIDS there must be other cofactors <11> present
before full blown AIDS emerges.

See <37> for Rosenthal's theory of what causes AIDS.

     Dr. Ken Rosenthal (no relation) an associate professor in
molecular virology and immunology at McMaster University, thinks that
though Duesberg raises important points that should be debated, it's
vitally important not to lose sight of HIV as the major cause, the bad
guy in AIDS.

     "I think [Duesberg is] raising valid questions and I think
they'll all be resolved in time.  I think what the shakeout will be is
that HIV is the essential cause although there probably will be
cofactors <11> involved," he said.