AIDS Activist Martin Delaney Dies

Poz.com's Peter Staley reports that noted AIDS treatment activist Martin Delaney died at his home today. Staley:

What a terribly sad day this is. A huge, huge loss for people with HIV, and all those who fight for them. This country's most accomplished and influential AIDS treatment activist, Martin Delaney, died just minutes ago at his home in San Rafael, California. Marty was the founder of Project Inform, and I blogged last year about how much he meant to me and so many others.

Among his many accomplishments, Marty was the father of the "parallel track" policy, developed by Anthony Fauci at the NIH in 1989, which allowed patients with AIDS whose condition prevents them from participating in controlled clinical trials to receive promising experimental drugs.

Although not HIV positive himself, Marty's tireless activism with the FDA, NIH and pharma helped save my life, and the lives of thousands of people with HIV/AIDS. He died from inoperable liver cancer stemming from a history of hepatitis B virus infection. On Monday, Marty was presented with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director’s Special Recognition Award for his many contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Along with Larry Kramer, for more than 20 years Martin Delaney has been one of my heroes in the battle against AIDS. His loss is a terrible blow to the AIDS activism community.