SF Chronicle: High hopes for genetic engineering AIDS therapy

Here is the medical writer’s dilemma: A terrific story comes along, with top flight researchers, a deadly disease, and hints of a treatment that could be, to use a forbidden word in medical writing, an actual breakthrough. Yet, the list of good results is just one case long. But it’s a GREAT and gripping tale. But just one case–hmm. What to do? See how the Chronicle’s Sabin Russell handles it in this long, absorbing, and detailed feature on an effort at UC San Francisco to add genes to the immune systems of AIDS patients in hopes of keeping them healthy without regular pills or shots. The lede literally says it all: “Michael DeLane is about to celebrate a rare anniversary. On Saturday, it will be one year since he stopped taking all his drugs for AIDS.” He is all there is, so far.

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