Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - March 21, 2000
Nusara Thaitawat
Aids activists set up tents at the Public Health Ministry in preparation for a long-haul protest against what they see as government indifference to their call for the compulsory licensing of Aids drugs.
Opening the March 20-24 annual international conference on HIV vaccine, Mr Korn reiterated Thailand's commitment to an international effort.
"The HIV/Aids vaccine research and development programme in Thailand is highly visible nationally and internationally," Mr Korn said.
The country has been involved in vaccine research and development since 1993 and so far, 10 clinical trials have been approved in Thailand, including the only large-scale Phase III trial in a developing country.
Vaccine development is conducted in three main phases: to test safety; whether it stimulates an adequate immune response to protect against the virus; and whether it works.
"Because of the high incidence of HIV in certain population groups in Thailand, and because of the existing medical, scientific and ethical infrastructure, Thailand has a comparative advantage in the area of efficacy evaluation of HIV vaccines," he said.
The government's policy was supportive, he said, and regional co-operation could expand.
Mr Korn said these trials could foster understanding of HIV which will benefit Thailand and the rest of the world.
Unaids estimates 16.3 million people have died of HIV/Aids so far, 1.1 million of them in South and Southeast Asia, and 13.7 million in Sub-Sahara Africa. There were an estimated 15,000 new infections per day last year.
The International Conference on HIV Vaccines - An Annual Update - 2000 is organised by Mahidol University and the ministry, and funded by the Harvard Aids Institute, the Jonas Salk Foundation and Unaids.
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