Healing tree may pay millions Samoans Samoans will share profits if research on substance in bark yields anti-HIV drug

HONOLULU--The families of two Samoan women who passed on knowledgeof a tree's healing powers will share in profits from any AIDS drugdeveloped from the rainforest plant.

In an agreement announced Thursday, the nonprofit AIDS ReSearchAlliance promised to give the government of Samoa and the healers 20percent of any net profits from an experimental anti-HIV compoundcalled prostratin.

Scientists hope to begin the first trials on humans within a year.

The drug, if successful, could earn millions of dollars a year forthe Samoans, said Irl Barefield, executive director of the AIDSReSearch Alliance, which is licensed to research the drug by theNational Cancer …