Merck Confidence in AIDS Vaccine Encourages Advocacy Groups

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Merck Confidence in AIDS Vaccine Encourages Advocacy Groups

Reuters (www.reuters.com) (12/12/00)
Michaud, Chris; Pierson, Ransdell

The research head for Merck, the nation's second-leading drug maker, said Tuesday that he was encouraged by ongoing early- stage human HIV vaccine studies at the company. Dr. Edward Scolnick told Wall Street analysts that Merck's vaccine candidates use specific HIV genes that are common to the virus' many strains, stimulating antibodies to work against the virus and prompting cellular immune-system cells to attack. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's Wayne Koff noted that animal studies reported by Merck in October-- in which monkeys were given a gene-based vaccine containing SIV and HIV DNA--were also promising, showing that the vaccine stopped the animals from developing symptoms of HIV infection, although it did not keep them from contracting the disease. Meanwhile, Greg Gonsalves of the Treatment Action Group praised Merck's researchers and history of designing AIDS treatments; however, he said he would like to see more details for the vaccine.
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