Science Fictions: a Scientific Mystery, a Massive Cover-Up, and the Dark Legacy of Robert Gallo.

John Crewdson

In the early 1980s, when AIDS was an emerging and largely mysterious epidemic, pressure was intense to find answers about the disease's cause and cure. The scientists who could lay claim to these answers would surely become household names and position themselves for substantial financial rewards. Two leaders in the search were Robert Gallo of the National Cancer Institute in the United States and Luc Montagnier of the Institut Pasteur in France. Gallo pinpointed the human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) as the culprit. The French had also found an indictable virus, which they called the lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV). At one point, the two labs exchanged samples. According to Crewdson, one of Gallo's associates proved the French had the AIDS virus, but instead of admitting this, Gallo hid the information. The author asserts that the U.S. scientist used his reputation, and some incorrect data, to gain a patent for AIDS-virus test kits of dubious quality. Science Fictions is the result of 10 years of investigation by Crewdson of letters, transcripts, memos, lab notes, and interviews. The result is a story of startling detail. Little, 2002, 670 p., b&w plates, hardcover, $27.95.