What is the progress on the recent tripartite agreement between the IAVI, Government of India and ICMR?
In spring 2001, IAVI and the Indian government specifically, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research and National AIDS Research Institute signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the development and human testing of promising AIDS vaccine candidates. Under this partnership, IAVI and Indian scientists have already started on one vaccine, working with US biotechnology firm Therion Biologics Corporation. The vaccine is under preparation in the laboratory, and we hope that it will be ready for human testing by 2003. At this time, trials will be conducted at yet-to-be-determined sites in India, under the approval of the Indian government and operated by Indian scientists. This team is one of a half dozen IAVI-sponsored AIDS Vaccine Development Partnerships, each pursuing one or more novel vaccine candidates. We are advancing a diverse portfolio of vaccines to maximize the chance for success in the shortest time. Hopefully this is the first of what wi
