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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