Lawrence K. Altman

Rethinking Is Urged on a Vaccine for AIDS By LAWRENCE K.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

ALTMAN WASHINGTON -- Researchers must go back to the drawing board before they can develop an effective vaccine against H.I.V., AIDS experts said at a scientific meeting on Tuesday.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Fauci, the top federal official responsible for AIDS research, agreed that more fundamental knowledge is needed about H.I.V. and the way the body and experimental vaccines respond to it before the goal of a licensed H.I.V. vaccine can be reached.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Fauci said at the one-day meeting, a Town Hall-type discussion for vaccine researchers on how best to spend federal H.I.V. vaccine money in light of a budget that has been flat for several years.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

The reassessment comes after last September's widely publicized failure of what had been the most promising candidate for an H.I.V. vaccine.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Many health officials believe that an effective vaccine would be the most crucial weapon in stopping the H.I.V. pandemic.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Scientists do not have a full understanding of why the vaccine failed, or why it was possibly harmful, in two large trials in the United States and South Africa.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Fauci's institute helped pay for the trials of the vaccine, which was made by Merck.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

"Under no circumstances will we stop AIDS vaccine research," Dr.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

James Hoxie of the University of Pennsylvania echoed the belief of many other participants by saying, "we are not close to having a vaccine" and "there is a tremendous need for innovation" in developing one.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

The experts also urged greater cooperation between AIDS scientists who work on such animal models and those who are trying to develop an H.I.V. vaccine for humans.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

A crucial issue is supporting younger researchers to replace the cadre of veteran AIDS scientists, many of whom are working beyond traditional retirement age.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Some scientists support conducting large vaccine trials in humans before all the fine points of the vaccine research are complete in animals because of the urgency of the pandemic.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context

Equally vocal groups call for testing everything as soon as the research shows promise because of the urgent need for a vaccine.

Diary Prequel Package, p.173 · original PDF · in context