Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 14, 2001
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
The candidate vaccine, which is a combination of Alvac and Aidsvax, was developed by three firms, Aventis, Vaxgen and Chiron. If successful, the trial could lead to the creation of the first preventive Aids vaccine.
As the trial country, Thailand would benefit from special consideration for securing such a vaccine for use. It would also develop laboratories and technical know-how in the field.
The Phase III trial would be headed by the Public Health Ministry and jointly administered by Mahidol University's Institute of Tropical Medicine, Siriraj hospital, Chiang Mai University and the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, with the support of the US army.
Phases I/II were already carried out on some 250 people by Siriraj hospital and Chiang Mai University's Research Institute for Health Science.
The vaccine was a live vector vaccine, said Supachai Rerkngam, vaccine expert at the Communicable Diseases Control Department. He said part of the Aids virus was genetically inserted into canary pox of birds with thick beaks.
Subtype E of the Aids virus, which is sexually transmitted and is predominant in Thailand, was used to develop the vaccine.
Dr Supachai said the vaccine was developed from canary pox because it could not multiply in the human body and would not cause disease in humans.
The trial would involve men and women between 20-45 years of age. Women joining the trial would have to practise birth control, he said.
The vaccine would be given for a six-month period in four doses and the volunteers' health would be followed up for at least three years, he said.
The second dose would be given after the first month of the trial, the third dose after three months and the fourth after six months. The volunteers would receive Alvac in the first two doses and two separate injections of Alvac and Aidsvax in the last two doses, Dr Supachai said.
The vaccine would be considered successful only if it was found to prevent HIV/Aids in half the volunteers. He said half the volunteers would be given a placebo.
The vaccine would only be considered effective if half of 0.66% (22 cases) of new HIV infections was reported in Chon Buri per year and half of 0.22% (two cases) of new HIV infections was reported in Rayong per year, he said. If the vaccine was a success, the group which received the placebo would be the first to receive the vaccine, he said.
The trial run in Chon Buri would be conducted in Sattahip, Si Racha, Phanthong and Banglamung, while the Rayong tests would be in Ban Khai, Ban Chang, Klaeng and Muang districts.
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