Biology question, help please?

A government agency is reviewing two proposals for HIV research but can fund only one. Which proposal would you recommend that the agency fund and why? You should consider not only the likely effectiveness of the treatment but also possible side effects. Proposal 1: Develop a drug that interferes with protein production. Proposal 2: Develop a substance that binds to CD4 receptors on helper T cells.

I'm having a tough time finding the answer to this question if someone could help me that would be great. thanks

you should consider what you need protein production in your body for. Is it an essential or non essential process? What would happen to you if all protein production in your body would be stopped for a week (consider enzymes needed, hair and nails, your muscles, antibodies, your blood, DNA replication).
How long could you exist without maintaining all of those? How fast is the turnover for various proteins in your body?

Alternatively you can try to figure out whether an AIDS virus binds to a CD4 receptor.

Consider those and you will have your answer.

Second one - HIV can only infect T cells. I assume blocking CD4 receptors stops HIV from infecting them. The only negative side effects of this that I see would be a weakened immune system. This treatment would be like a contraceptive, it would help prevent the person from contracting HIV but do nothing if they've already got it. It might slow the virus' spreading throughout the body in early stages but once they've got AIDS the drug would do more harm than it's worth. This is the best choice for minimal side effects because the drug is so specialized. The first one is a bad choice. Protein synthesis is needed throughout the body and if it's halted you most likely wouldn't have very long to live. Granted it would stop your cells from resynthesizing the virus but it would also block your cells from synthesizing needed enzymes and proteins. The side effects of this drug would be numerous and severe.