AEGiS-15IAC: A decade of progress in AIDS vaccine development in Thailand.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

A decade of progress in AIDS vaccine development in Thailand.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10410)

Thiamchai V
AIDS Vaccine Coordinating Unit, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand

ISSUES: The mission of the Thailand's National Plan for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development is to promote the development and facilitate evaluation of safe, effective, affordable and accessible HIV vaccines while building up the national research capacity.

DESCRIPTION: The Plan has facilitated the implementation of numerous strategies and activities, including technical cooperation, capacity building of Thai scientists, institutions and national research networks by formally integrating the experiences, expertise, research infrastructure and resources for conduct of HIV vaccine trials, social and behavioral research, ethical issues, political mobilization, strong link with community and international coordination to develop appropriate vaccines in accordance with international standard for global use especially Thailand and other developing countries.

LESSONS LEARNED: To date, 10 phase I/II and 2 phase III HIV vaccine clinical trials have been conducted with a diversify of approaches to vaccine design included synthetic peptide, gp120 depleted inactivated virus, recombinant gp120 and viral vectors. Although the first phase III preliminary results of the gp120 vaccine in North America and Thailand show it does not work, the first large-scale efficacy trial in the world to test the prime-boost vaccination was proceeded by Thailand, in collaboration with the U. S. to answer key scientific questions to make efficient vaccines in the future with several benefits and achievements along have been gained especially capacity building of infrastructure.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The development of a HIV vaccine remains the scientific and public health challenge of this new decade. However, it is urgent that the availability affordability of a safe and efficient HIV vaccine should by any means strongly expand the efforts of prevention against HIV infection proven to be efficient in Thailand. The daunting challenge of making effective vaccine accessible to those who need it most, will require concerted and sustained collaborative effort on the part of all parties concerned.

Keywords: AEGIS, AIDS Vaccines, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV, Clinical Trials, Phase III, Developing Countries, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, Human Development, Thailand, Research, HIV Seropositivity, Research Design, Vaccination, North America, Ethics, growth & development, immunology

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A10410