Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Saturday, December 15, 2001
Anjira Assavanonda
Aidsvax, developed by VaxGen company, has been tested in the phase III trial among intravenous drug users in Bangkok.
The other vaccine is Alvac, developed by Aventis Pasteur, which has already completed its phase I and II trials in Thailand, and appeared to be safe for humans.
Supachai Roekngarm, an expert at the Communicable Diseases Control Department who is running the trial project, said a combination of the vaccines would probably work better in warding off HIV infection.
If the trial works, the market price of the drugs could also drop.
It is specifically designed to have a preventive effect against HIV virus sub-types E and B, which are common here.
The trial period will be five years, and will cover Sattahip, Chon Buri's Sri Racha, Phanthong and Bang Lamung districts, as well as Rayong's Ban Khai, Ban Chang, Klaeng and Muang districts.
Dr Supachai said Rayong and Chon Buri were chosen because the provinces have a high rate of new infections.
"Although the HIV problem has been serious in some northern provinces, such as Chiang Mai, the vaccine trial could not be carried out in the area since its new infection rate is low.
"HIV sufferers in the North are mostly those who were infected about 7-10 years ago and have already developed the disease, for which the purpose of the preventive vaccine would not serve," Dr Supachai said.
Prayoon Kunanusont, an adviser to the trial project, said the trial will be open to volunteers aged between 20-30 who test HIV-negative and are not in the risk groups.
Recruitment of volunteers would start next year, and the trial process would start within a year of recruitment.
Each volunteer would get four injections in six months.
The first and second injections would be Aidsvax only, while the third and fourth would be a combination of Aidsvax and Alvac.
Dr Prayoon said it was still too soon to ensure the success of the trial since many factors were involved.
However, he insisted Thailand would benefit from the trial.
If it succeeded, the vaccines would probably be made available at reasonable prices, and priority would be given to people living in the trial zones, he said.
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