Late-stage HIV infection: The primary goal for our first trial will be to repeat the immune system improvements seen with interferon inhibition in European clinical trials in late-stage HIV patients ¹ . There are approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. living with HIV infection. Of these, 250,000 are considered mid-to-late-stage and at risk of conversion to the immune-deficient stage termed AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The HIV coat protein gp120 is a potent interferon inducer ². In the later stages of HIV infection, the constant and excessive exposure to both interferon- α and interferon- γ is thought to contribute significantly to brain and immune system damage. "Paradoxically, the appearance of interferon activity in sera of HIV-infected patients is associated with disease progression, not resolution.” ³ . This hypothesis was tested in European trials involving hundreds of HIV patients where reduction of interferon bioactivity was associated with reduced viral load, improved prognosis and decreased frequency of conversion to AIDS ¹.