Thailand to Present Vaccine Results From Phase III HIV Vaccine Trial During XV International AIDS Conference

Researchers from Thailand are expected to present results from the world's largest Phase III HIV vaccine trial at the XV International AIDS Conference, which is scheduled for July 11-16 in Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand's Nation reports (Nation, 6/8). The trial is testing Brisbane, Calif.-based biotechnology company VaxGen's experimental vaccine AIDSVAX in conjunction with Aventis Pasteur's ALVAC among 16,000 HIV-negative volunteers from Thailand's Rayong and Chon Buri provinces. In the five-year trial, which began in September 2003, AIDSVAX is being used as a booster for the ALVAC vaccine (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/16). Charal Trinvuthipong, Thailand's Department of Disease Control director-general, on Monday said that researchers at the conference would hear details about the Phase III trial's progress, according to the Nation (Nation, 6/8). Although AIDSVAX failed to protect against HIV infection in trials to test its individual usefulness, researchers hope that combining the two vaccines will provide a protective effect, the Bangkok Post reports (Bangkok Post, 6/5).

Webcasts and other coverage of the XV International AIDS Conference will be available online at kaisernetwork.org/aids2004. Kaisernetwork.org will serve as the conference's official webcaster.

Additional information on the conference, including online registration, is available at aids2004.org.

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