[Conference Materials, Panel to Review GP-160 Vaccine Candidate (1992: Bethesda, Maryland)]

GATHERED HERE TODAY -- TO MAKE THAT CRUCIAL
DETERMINATION ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC MERITS OF
GP-160. IN BRIEF, THE ROLE OF THIS PANEL
WILL BE TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS EFFICACY
TRIAL, AS DESCRIBED IN THE LEGISLATION, IF --
AND ONLY IF -- YOU DECIDE THAT THE SCIENTIFIC
MERITS OF GP-160 ARE NOT COMPELLING ENOUGH TO
MAKE IT A WORTHY CANDIDATE VACCINE FOR AN
EFFICACY TRIAL THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY $20
MILLION OF U.S. TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE NIH WAS ASKED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS IN A RATHER UNUSUAL
WAY. WE WERE NOT ASKED TO HELP IDENTIFY THE
BEST VACCINE OR VACCINES FOR RESEARCH FUNDING,
BUT RATHER WE WERE ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE
CONGRESS'S PREDETERMINATION OF GP-160 AS A
VACCINE WORTHY OF FEDERAL SUPPORT. THUS, THE
NIH WAS TAKEN OUT OF ITS USUAL ROLE OF DECIDING
WHICH THERAPIES AND STUDIES, FROM A SCIENTIFIC

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