IAVI Report Vol. 2, no. 2

5PDA3

IAVI SAC Recommends
Scientific Projects
IAVI's scientific advisory committee (SAC)
met in March in Annecy, France to review
funding proposals solicited by the Initiative
and recommend the first set of scientific'
projects. The SAC also reviewed global
progress on whole-killed and other particlebased HIV vaccine approaches. In its review
of whole-killed vaccines, the SAC heard
reports from John Oxford of the London
Hospital Medical College, Martha Eibl of
Immuno AG, Ron Moss of the Immune
Response Corp. and Peter Salk of the Salk
Foundation. The SAC concluded that wholekilled vaccines are a potentially viable
approach to HIV vaccine development and
that additional animal studies were needed to
evaluate carefully prepared whole-killed
products based on primary viral isolates. The
committee also heard reports from Michel
Klein of Pasteur Merieux Connaught (PMC)
Canada and Hans Wolf of Regensburg
University in Germany on studies of vaccine
constructs using virus-like particles.
In its previous meeting, in November, 1996, in
New York City, the SAC reviewed recombinant
viral vectors. Speakers included Jean-Louis Excler
of PMC, who presented an update on canarypox
(ALVAC) vectors, Dennis Panicali of Therion
Biologics, who reported on the company's
attenuated vaccinia vector constructs, Andrew
McMichael of Oxford University, who presented
on recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)
and Norman Letvin of Harvard Medical School
who summarized the status of other viral
vectors including polio virus replicons,
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, adenovirus
and others. The committee concluded that the a
major gap in moving viral vectors forward into
trial in developing countries was the absence of
a boost capable of eliciting antibodies against
non-subtype B clades of HIVM Should new
information suggest which boost might be
optimal, the SAC suggested that IAVI move to

insure that such constructs progress rapidly into
clinical*studies. Inaddition, the SAC
recommended that the National Institutes of
Health (USA) be encouraged to conduct clinical
studies that 'would allow for a direct comparison
of different viral vectors (such as vaccinia and
canarypox). Viral vectors, the committee
concluded, appear to be moving forward, albeit
slowly, and may require additional support at
later stages in development.The SAC agreed to
monitor this area and to consider targeted
funding when appropriate.
IAVI Board Meets,
Adds New Members
In a meeting in April, IAVI's board of directors
approved the scientific projects proposed by
scientific director Peggy Johnston and the SAC.
The board authorized Johnston to initiate
negotiations with the proposed recipients.
Negotiations are ongoing with a goal of
awarding initial funds by August of this year.
In addition, two new members have joined the
board: Shudo Yamazaki, director general,
National Institute of Infectious Diseases
(formerly National Institute of Health) of the
Government of Japan and Geeta Rao Gupta,
president of the International Center for
Research on Women, Washington, D.C.
IAVI's International Advocacy
Efforts Continue
In a letter to the more than 68 organizations
in 23 nations that endorsed the "International
Call for Action on HIV Vaccine Development,"
IAVI Interim President Seth Berkley noted that
the Final Communique of the Denver Summit of
the Eight contained a section on AIDS and
accelerating AIDS vaccine development. "We all
share satisfaction in this public commitment
towards multilateral efforts in AIDS and vaccine
development:' Berkley wrote. "This, however, is
only a first step. The next and more critical step
will be to turn this political will into action:' he
added. IAVI is continuing to obtain organizational
endorsements for the Call for Action.

NAT Becomes IAVI Partner
The National AIDS Trust (NAT) of the
United Kingdom has becarne one of IAVI's
partner organizations. As a partner, NAT will
promote the need to support HIV vaccine
development with the British government,
private industry and community-based groups.
The two organizations have worked closely in
a 'series of international advocacy efforts.
NAT's patron, Diana, Princess of Wales,
endorsed the work of IAVI in a message of
support for World AIDS Day last year,
commending the "renewed global collaboration
to find a long-term solution to HIV."
IAVI Report Goes Quarterly
With this issue, the IAV Report will begin
publication on a quarterly schedule. Since our
launch one year ago, the IAVI Report has grown
rapidly and is now distributed to individuals,
organizations, and companies in more than
92 countries.
To be placed on our mailing list, send a request to:
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IAVI Report welcomes readers' comments
and suggestions.
Report on AIDS
Community/IAVI
Consultations Available
In 1996, IAVI convened a series of meetings
with AIDS community representatives from
developing and industrialized countries to
discuss specific concerns about HIV vaccine
research and obtain advice on the future
development of IAVI. A summary report of
these meetings, edited by Doris Mugrditchian,
M.D., is now available. To obtain a copy, send a
written request to: IAVI Interim Secretariat,
810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, USA,
or e-mail: I [email protected]. +