Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - June 10, 2002
Anjira Assavanonda
The Los Angeles Times said auditors for Immune Response Corp had questioned the company's ability to stay in business following financial losses and the resignation of its chief financial officer.
On May 22 the newspaper said Immune Response made a first-quarter loss of $5.2 million, compared to a loss of $5.1 million a year ago.
The company said it had enough money to continue trading into this month.
Immune Response has been responsible for supplying the vaccine to Thai volunteers.
In Thailand, Trinity Medical Group, which is co-developing the vaccine in Southeast Asia, has asked the Food and Drug Administration to register Remune, or HIV-1 Immunogen.
In spite of the auditors' finding, Vina Churdboonchart, Trinity's owner and head of the research team, insisted Immune Response's finances would have no impact on the trial, as all financial support came from Trinity Medical Group.
However, she conceded she would need to think hard if Immune Response went out of business.
Immune Response Corp had laid off staff to cut costs. So far, however, the company's losses had not affected the trial, and she believed the firm would survive.
"Financial losses are common for a small company like Immune Response. It has weathered such crises in the past," said Ms Vina.
Most of Immune Response's products were still in the development stage and had not been approved for sale.
Last July, a Pfizer subsidiary withdrew from a development partnership with Remune research in the US, after Immune Response failed to convince it that the vaccine could help patients.
In Thailand, however, Ms Vina insisted the trial would go on. She has been waiting for an FDA decision whether to register Remune.
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