Case Histories of Significant Medical Advances: HIV Tests and AIDS Treatments

Abstract

We describe how a diverse cast of characters including public health organizations, research laboratories, for-profit health care companies, activists and regulators, rolled back the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in just fifteen years. Moreover, as the case history shows, a stunning reduction in deaths from the diseases was accomplished largely through accretive advances—without developing a vaccine, an unambiguous test, or a complete cure.