Non-HIV Benefits of HAART

“KS[Kaposi’s Sarcoma]-derived cell lines underwent apoptosis [cell death] in vitro after treatment with [the AIDS protease inhibitor drug] ritonavir at concentrations that are obtained in clinical therapy…these data suggest that ritonavir has antineoplastic [anti-cancer] effects that are independent from its ability to inhibit the HIV protease”

“We studied the HIV aspartyl PIs [Protease Inhibitors] indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir and saquinavir, at clinically achievable concentrations, for their ability to inhibit P. carinii [causative factor of AIDS-defining pneumonia PCP]...We found a partial, dose-dependent antipneumocystis effect [i.e. perhaps the benefits of this therapy that are sometimes found are because they directly target PCP, and not HIV]”

“our data demonstrate that indinavir and ritonavir [both protease inhibitors (PI)], two major components of HAART regimens, have direct anticandidal effects in vitro and in vivo...Thus, we are tempted to speculate that this novel effect of PI on Candida virulence might concur with and possibly also favor immunoreconstitution in explaining the unprecedented beneficial activity of HAART on candidiasis in persons with AIDS [i.e. these drugs may have beneficial effects due to their activity on this fungal infection, and not from their activity against HIV]”