
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990                   TAG: 9003112712
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AIDS DRUG LINKED TO 7 DEATHS

At least seven AIDS patients have died from the adverse effects of DDI, a highly regarded experimental drug that has been distributed free to thousands of people infected with the AIDS virus.

Federal health officials said Saturday that they have asked the drug's manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, to send a letter to all doctors treating patients with DDI, reminding them of its hazards.

AIDS activists won a victory last year when the the Food and Drug Administration agreed for the first time in its history to make such an experimental drug available to patients years before anyone could be certain of its value.

Nearly 8,000 people now are taking DDI. The majority seem to be doing well.

Washington Post

by CNB