AIDS: Treatment with protease inhibitors, drugs that inhibit HIV protease, an essential enzyme for the survival of the HIV virus, decreases HIV to undetectable levels and has generated great optimism. Although far from finding a cure, these findings are steps toward understanding HIV. In December 1995, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved saquinavir, followed by Norvir and Crixivan, all of which are protease inhibitors. Although the availability of these drugs varies, efforts are being made to provide the drugs to everyone. President Bill Clinton has asked Congress to approve $52 million, a 50 percent increase for AIDS research, to assist people who need these drugs throughout the country. In Latin America, efforts have been made to approve these drugs. According to Miklos Salgo, director of virology at Hoffmann-La Roche, Brazil has been the first country in Central and South America to approve saquinavir. Other scientists are optimistic that these new drugs will arrive in Latin America within a year.