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Drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS are various classes of toxic chemotherapies known as "antivirals" or "antiretrovirals.".

According to investigative journalist and researcher Liam Scheff, who writes on politics, hidden history, race, class and culture, AZT was developed in 1964 in a cancer research lab. It is a chemotherapy drug used to kill the cells that make up living tissue and blood. It works by disrupting cellular replication at the genetic level. DNA is comprised of four bases that combining in pairs. The pairs line up and spiral into a double helix.{{fact}} AZT stops the spiral, breaks the chain and kills the cell. Considered too dangerous even for short term use, AZT was shelved and a patent was never filed. {{fact}} However, over 20 years later in 1986, Burroughs Wellcome (now GSK) recycled AZT into an AIDS drug. Testing labs that ordered the drug received it in a package bearing a skull and crossbones on a bright orange background with a "TOXIC" label and warnings against swallowing, inhaling and skin contact. Today, GSK sells AZT under the brand name "Retrovir" and as an ingredient in "Combivir" and "Trizivir."{{fact}} According to the warning label:

:"Retrovir (AZT) has been associated with Hematologic Toxicity (blood toxicity), including Neutropenia (loss of neurophils, an essential component of blood) and Severe Anemia (potentially fatal lack of blood production). Prolonged use of Retrovir has been associated with Symptomatic Myopathy (muscle wasting), Lactic Acidosis and Severe Hepatomegaly (liver swelling) with Steatosis (fat degeneration). Fatal Cases have been reported with the use of Nucleoside Analogues (AZT, 3TC, ddl, D4T) alone or in combination, including Retrovir and other Antiretrovirals."{{fact}}<ref>Liam Scheff [http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/231104/CTM%20-%20AIDS%20orphans.htm Noble Doctors Try New Drugs on AIDS Orphans], ''Crux'' Magazine, November 2004</ref>

Drugs containing AZT as an ingredient accounted for about one billion British pounds (over 1. 5 billion dollars) in GSK's 2002 sales alone. {{fact}} Other nucleoside analogues provided another 470 million pounds (750 million dollars) in sales.{{fact}} In 1986, AZT was rushed through its [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) approval trials in record speed. Overseen and funded by Burroughs Wellcome (now GSK), the trials were marred by false reporting and a total breakdown of study controls.{{fact}} Nevertheless, the drug was released to the market. Subsequent independent AZT studies revealed the obvious deadly nature of the drug. In English, Australian, and Dutch studies, AZT patients developed severe anemia, requiring multiple blood transfusions just to stay alive. In the Dutch study, three-quarters of the AZT patients died. <ref>Liam Scheff [http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/231104/CTM%20-%20AIDS%20orphans.htm Noble Doctors Try New Drugs on AIDS Orphans], ''Crux '' Magazine, November 2004</ref> See also [[AIDS industry]].