DECIPHERING ANTI-HIV DRUGS : FORUM OFFERS DATA ON DANGERS, COSTS, BENEFITS OF NEWEST PROTEASE INHIBITORS.

Byline: Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writer

David Joseph a week ago began taking one of the newest and best drugs available to blunt the spread of AIDS, hopeful the treatment will prolong his life.

But the HIV-positive man said there are a lot of things he doesn't yet know about the drug, like its side effects, or the dangers of taking too much or too little.

``We're experimenting. And we're a little excited, and a little nervous,'' said Joseph, 57, of West Hollywood. ``But, it's hope.''

To gain a better understanding of the medication, Joseph and his son, Ben Joseph, 23, of Tarzana joined about 700 people at Paramount Pictures for a forum Saturday focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of the newest class of anti-HIV drugs, known as protease inhibitors.

Sponsored by the New York-based National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP), the conference was the second in a nationwide series of forums about the inhibitors, three of which have been federally approved in recent months.

``It's the latest thing - like a new car coming out on the market that has everything,'' said Gary Sethi, a Sherman Oaks pharmacist who works closely with the Valley HIV/AIDS Center in Van Nuys. ``Everyone is interested.''

The conferences are being held mostly to let people with the human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, make informed decisions about their treatment, said Jules Levin, executive director of the NATAP.

``We are heading into a new and exciting era in the treatment of HIV,'' Levin said. ``It is important to learn about the practical uses of these drugs.''

Levin extolled the drugs' successes, but cautioned the standing-room-only audience there are dangers.

Some of the inhibitors, if taken with certain other drugs, might be toxic or render other treatments ineffective. There can be side effects, he said, like diarrhea, cramps, mouth ulcers, headaches and dizziness.

Some of the drugs, he said, must be taken with food - some without. Dosage schedules, he said, may be crucial.

Three of the drugs - Saquinavir, Indinavir and Ritonavir, already are on the market; two are awaiting federal approval. Representatives from the makers of all five drugs spoke at the conference.

While many tests have shown the treatments have delayed the onset of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the experts said, more studies still are needed.

In the meantime, Miklos Salgo, of Saquinavir-maker Hoffman-La Roche, said interest in the drug is sweeping the nation.

``There is a large demand for the protease inhibitors,'' Salgo said. ``I would say virtually every HIV-infected patient is considering taking them.''

Caught up in the fervor is Robert Terry, 31, of West Hollywood, who is interested in the new treatment, but wants to be cautious.

``I'm just trying to find out as much as possible,'' said Terry, who found out two years ago he is HIV-positive. ``There's good reason to be excited.''

Others said they were interested in the new drugs because they had friends and relatives with the virus, or work with infected patients.

Marcy Fenton, a nutritionist with the AIDS Project Los Angeles, said she wants to know what her clients can eat and drink to minimize side effects of inhibitors, ``so that I can help develop strategies to reduce those side effects.''

Tony Espinosa, of Silver Lake said he is more concerned about how the drugs can be made available to the poor.

Generally, experts say the inhibitors must be used in combination with other approved drugs at a cost of more than $12,000 a year per patient.

``I have a lot of friends who are sick, a lot of clients who are sick,'' said Espinosa, who works at an AIDS intervention center. ``My main goal is to find out when the drugs are going to be available to the homeless, (prostitutes) and drug addicts.''