Statement of Cathy Wilfert, Scientific Director, Pediatric AIDS Foundation

1i/06/1997 12:32 9199680447 WILFERT PAGE 04
9-22-1997 10:50AM FROM PEDIATRIC AIDS 3103931882 P. 3
access to AZT, it is therefore not ethical to conduct placebo-controlled
intervention trials in developing nations. Citizens of these developing
nations have determined that they cannot use the proven AZT regimen
routinely in HIV-infected pregnant women and could not accomplish such a
clinical trial. They have decided they must do those studies which will
establish a feasible intervention for their population. Isn't this a reasonable
decision for the responsible persons in these countries? The U.S. participants
in the WHO Conference agreed with the scientific logic, the ethical decisions,
and therefore have provided resources for these trials. The recent reviews of
these trials have been reiterated by Dr. Varmus and described in a letter by Dr.
Shalala. They are to be commended for their courage and their cormmitment
to effectively diminishing mother to infant HIW transmission worldwide.