Cold War Triangle: How Scientists in East and West Tamed HIV - Softcover

"I got to know a number of the scientists mentioned in the book and have read it with great interest. It gives an excellent account of an unfolding story of scientific, political and social interest."

--Jean-Marie Lehn, University of Strasbourg, France, and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

"Ambassador Loeckx tells with passion and vigor the story of one of the great breakthroughs in medicine: the containment of HIV that has saved millions of lives. It's also a great story about the very nature of humanity: how cooperation among great minds from different horizons and disciplines transcended the Wall that once divided Europe"

--Karl De Gucht, European Commissioner for Trade, 2010-2014, and Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2004-2009.

"As a scientist in the seventies I had first hand experience on the hurdles of crossing political borders in advancing human knowledge. The book captures not only this intriguing story of scientists and entrepreneurs, but also evokes the quest for a deeper understanding of microbiology."

--Dr. Jos B. Peeter, CEO, Capricorn Venture Partners

"Cold War Triangle was on top of my summer reading pile and yes, it is great! It reads like a detective novel and I am amazed how much science I learned from it, having both an MD and a PhD degree in chemistry. Also, all the familiar names, Brachet, de Duve, Van Montagu...It was a real treat to be reminded of such fascinating scientists that I had met. Like a trip back in time when I accompanied Donny on meetings all over the world. Thanks a lot for such a great work!"

--Eliane Strosberg, MD, PhD in Chemistry, and author of ART and SCIENCE and The Human Figure and Jewish Culture

The extraordinary story of scientists in East and West combatting HIV A small group of scientists were doggedly working in the field of antiviral treatments when the AIDS epidemic struck. Faced with one of the grand challenges of modern biology of the twentieth century, scientists worked across the political divide of the Cold War to produce a new class of antivirals. Their molecules were developed by a Californian start-up together with teams of scientists at the Rega Institute of KU Leuven and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Academy of Sciences in Prague. These molecules became the cornerstone of the blockbuster drugs now used to combat and prevent HIV. Cold War Triangle gives an insight into the human face of science as it recounts the extraordinary story of scientists in East and West who overcame ideological barriers and worked together for the benefit of humanity.