March 2001 Cover
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The research head for Merck, the nation's second-leading drug
maker, said that he was encouraged by ongoing early-stage human HIV
vaccine studies at the company. Dr. Edward Scolnick told Wall Street
analysts
that Merck's vaccine candidates use specific HIV genes that are
common to the virus' many strains, stimulating antibodies to work
against the virus and prompting cellular immune-system cells to
attack.
The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's Wayne Koff noted
that animal studies reported by Merck in October-- in which monkeys
were given a gene-based vaccine containing SIV and HIV DNA-- were
also promising, showing that the vaccine stopped the animals from
developing symptoms of HIV infection, although it did not keep them
from contracting the disease. Meanwhile, Greg Gonsalves of the
Treatment Action
Group praised Merck's researchers and history of designing AIDS
treatments; however, he said he would like to see more details for
the vaccine.
Editor's Note: from Reuters
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