Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - November 12, 2002
Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the government's 30-baht health programme recognised only medicines and the criteria effectively excluded V-1 and other food supplements from its coverage.
She said the ministry would reconsider only if and when V-1 could be scientifically proved as a medicine.
V-1 is registered as a food supplement by the Food and Drug Administration.
About 50 V-1 advocates yesterday made the request while submitting a letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra through his representative, urging the government to investigate the death of Sureeporn Limsupareuk, a medical technician at Lert Sin hospital. She was believed to be involved in the testing of a patient taking the immunitor.
The group also claimed that the first V-1 study commissioned by former health minister Surapong Suebwonglee was insufficient to conclude that the immunitor could not cure Aids.
The FDA has been asked to consider approving HIV-1 Immunogen, even though the product was withdrawn from consideration two years ago by the National Scientific Sub-Committee Considering Vaccine Trials in Humans.
Vina Chertboonchart of Trinity Medical Group, which has been researching the product, said Thai researchers from five different institutions had confirmed the candidate vaccine, tested in the country since 1992, was effective in treating HIV/Aids patients.
Dr Supachai Khunaratanaphruk, FDA secretary-general, said the issue would have to be considered by the National Drug Commission, and approval of all drugs or vaccines would have to be done in accordance with international standards.
The vaccine, marketed as Remune and developed by US-based Immune Response Corporation, has successfully undergone phase-I safety and phase-II immunogenicity trial of people with HIV in Thailand.
It still needs to go through phase III trial, which would look into its effectiveness.
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