Thai HIV Vaccine Hype: AHF Reiterates Calls for Independent Review of AIDS Vaccine Effort

Thai HIV Vaccine Hype: AHF Reiterates Calls for Independent Review of AIDS Vaccine Effort

Business Wire - October 20, 2009

LOS ANGELES - In anticipation of today's controversial presentation of the Thai HIV vaccine study data at the AIDS Vaccine Conference in Paris, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) reiterated its disappointment at the news that data that seriously undermined the purported success of the trial were not released publicly when other, more favorable data were reported late last month. The release of only partial--and favorable--data, which showed initial efficacy in approximately one third of the Thai vaccine trial participants, led to worldwide favorable publicity for the thought-to-be-promising vaccine effort, which was conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US Army and Thailand.

"The doubts that have been raised prior to today's presentation regarding the possible misrepresentation of the results of the $105 million study--funded by the NIH and the U.S. Military--has already harmed the credibility of AIDS vaccine research. Without an independent body evaluating the decisions of the NIH, the erosion of public opinion is sure to continue," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Such oversight will ensure that the millions of dollars in research monies are being spent wisely and effectively, instead of squandered on large-scale clinical trials widely believed to be without promise. Without such oversight, the AIDS community runs the risk of a repeat of this latest debacle and the further undermining of support for such research."

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 110,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.

Media Availability

For further comment, please contact:

Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation

(323) 810-1238

Contacts

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Lori Yeghiayan

Associate Director of Communications

Mobile: 323-377-4312

loriy@aidshealth.org

Ged Kenslea

Communications Director

Mobile: 323-791-5526

gedk@aidshealth.org
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