AEGiS-11IAC: The role of developing countries in research and development and testing of HIV vaccines.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

The role of developing countries in research and development and testing of HIV vaccines.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:216 (abstract no. Th.A.285)
Mbidde KE; Uganda Cancer Institute, Makerere Medical School, Kampala, Uganda. Fax: 41-532-282. E-mail: ekmbidde@mukla.gn.apc.org.

ISSUE: What is the role of developing countries in research, development and testing of HIV vaccines? Magnitude of the problem: The HIV epidemic continues to spread seemingly unabated especially in developing countries in the face of interventions of proven efficacy which poor nations cannot afford. Of the 40M people projected to have been HIV-infected worldwide by the YR 2000, 90% will be in developing countries. Given this trend, new interventions of public health importance including preventive HIV vaccines must be developed and tested. Because of the complexity of the issues involved in R&D and testing of HIV vaccines, no one nation or company would like to go it alone. Hence the need for a concerted global effort. And what is the role of developing countries in this effort? Role of developing countries: Developing countries must be seen to be active partners in this struggle. Suitable individuals should be identified to train in basic science and clinical aspects relevant to vaccine R&D. Primate centres should be facilitated by donating animals whenever required for vaccine R&D. Politicians, religious and community leaders and scientists should discourage adverse publicity about HIV vaccines, and should emphasize the good likely to come out of them. Laws regarding the use of new and investigational drugs should be put in place. Compensation for injury to an individual should be discussed and agreed upon. Individuals and cohorts suitable for Phases 1, 2 and 3 should be identified and prepared for the trials. Governments should earmark funds for R&D and testing of vaccines. Sources of funds for purchasing efficacious vaccines should be approached and negotiations started. Each nation individually will decide on which vaccine to evaluate having carefully considered the benefits and risks involved. Further research in better methods of using current interventions should be encouraged.

CONCLUSIONS: Developing countries must take an active part in R&D and testing of preventive HIV vaccines and should do all they can to remove barriers likely to deter these efforts knowing that they are hard hit by the epidemic.

Keywords: AEGIS, AIDS Vaccines, Developing Countries, Vaccines, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Research, HIV, Anti-HIV Agents, Public Health, Ethics, Risk, HIV Seropositivity, economics, prevention & control, ICA11

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