Encephalitis and Ara-A: An Ethical Case Study

Abstract

I n August 1977 a collaborative antiviral study of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) reported that a new drug, adenine arabinoside (ara-A), had been tested and found to be highly useful in the treatment and cure of biopsy-proved herpes simplex encephalitis.1 The results were acclaimed as a major advance by the Washington Post2 and a viral antidote by Time magazine.3 Was this study, on which the government had spent $1.2 million since 1972,4 worth the money and effort? In fact, this project raises many unresolved ethical and cost/ benefit issues.