Please join me today for a tweetorial on how previous fatal diseases became chronic and treatable through incremental steps, many times with initial therapies providing modest benefits: 1/2 1. HIV/AIDS •Initial Treatments: The first antiretroviral drugs, such as AZT (zidovudine) introduced in the late 1980s, provided modest benefits, primarily extending life by a few months. •Incremental Improvements: The development of more effective antiretroviral therapies (ART) in the 1990s, particularly combination therapies known as HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), dramatically improved survival and quality of life. •Current Status: With modern ART, HIV is now considered a chronic, manageable condition, allowing individuals to live near-normal lifespans with proper adherence to treatment. WHY NOT ALS? 2. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) •Initial Treatments: Before targeted therapies, treatments included chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, which had limited success and high risk. •Incremental Improvements: The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib (Gleevec) in the early 2000s was a breakthrough, leading to significant increases in survival rates. •Current Status: Subsequent TKIs, such as dasatinib and nilotinib, have further improved outcomes, making CML a chronic condition for many patients with sustained treatment. WHY NOT ALS? 3. Hepatitis C •Initial Treatments: Early treatments included interferon and ribavirin, which had low cure rates and severe side effects. •Incremental Improvements: The development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) like sofosbuvir and ledipasvir in the 2010s greatly improved cure rates and reduced side effects. •Current Status: Hepatitis C is now often curable with a short course of DAAs, transforming it from a potentially fatal disease to one that is effectively treatable. WHY NOT ALS? @ALSMNDMamaBears @BellinaDeb @KandySimons @klink52 @BridgetRebecca4 @plainJaniexx @Shines2017 @mattwoman @ginaGib68993499 @makerisafer @mustangshellyd @Smithstrongmom1 @TheRevDrLeslie @nicolecimbura @FarberStacy @BartBaker @HaterAls @als_now @aVoice4ALS @sabrevaya @bsw5020 @limpbroozkit @HerALSStory