Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Reuters NewMedia - Wednesday December 13, 2000
Chris Michaud and Ransdell Pierson

Dr. Edward Scolnick, research chief for the nation's No. 2 drugmaker, on Tuesday told Wall Street analysts the company had suffered failure after failure in its 17 years of research on an HIV vaccine. But he said ongoing early-stage human HIV vaccine studies at Merck had boosted his confidence.

"My feeling and fond hope is that I, or my eventual successor, will some day be in front of you, telling you about the efficacy of this (HIV) vaccine program," said Scolnick.

Scolnick was not immediately available for further comment about his vaccine program, or how soon an effective vaccine might be available if one succeeds in more-advanced clinical trials.

Some Wall Street analysts have speculated that Scolnick, who is 60, may soon retire. But neither Scolnick nor Merck have announced any such plans. Merck's research boss said the company's current vaccine candidates incorporate specific HIV genes that are common to various strains of the virus. They are meant to work by two mechanisms of action, by stimulating antibodies against the virus and also to prod different immune-system cells to go on the attack.

Wayne Koff, vice president of research for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, said Merck is no doubt also encouraged by its own earlier animal studies showing favorable results in monkeys. The primates were immunized with a gene-based vaccine containing bits of genetic material from SIV, the monkey version of HIV, as well as human HIV.

The studies, reported in October, showed the Merck AIDS vaccine did not prevent monkeys from being infected, but stopped them from developing symptoms of HIV infection and kept them alive.

"It's pieces of data like this that have given Scolnick more confidence," said Koff, who speculated it would take Merck another five years to complete trials of its current HIV vaccine candidates.

Gregg Gonsalves, the policy director for the AIDS research and advocacy group Treatment Action Group, said Merck has "a good team and a good history of developing (AIDS) drugs," but said he would have liked to have seen more specifics and timetables on the AIDS vaccine.

"It's good when they have Scolnick saying something positive like that. I don't think it's going to happen within the next couple of years, but it's a long-term thing," Gonsalves added.

A spokesman for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, among the nation's largest and oldest AIDS support groups, was also encouraged by Merck's comments.

"We're happy to see that Merck is moving on these trials of this new vaccine," said Marty Algaze. "We're always encouraged when drug companies like Merck do this kind of work, but it's too early in the process to know whether the vaccine will be effective. But we're very optimistic, as are they," Algaze added.

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