[Email Exchange between Bruce Weniger and Sten Vermund]

iiokhgically irrelevant immunogenicity. He will highlight the absence of
cross neutralization as solid evidence that they will not work. My only fear
is that the debate will go at cross purposes, John presenting data and you,
Edward, responding with the compelling need to try empirical approaches that
may benefit, at least to some extent. My only advice is to try to have some
strong SCIENTIFIC responses to his arguments, even as you present your own.
For example: cross neuts absent may be artifact of insensitive assays;
chimp challenge experiments suggest the utility of an antibody-based
immunological gauntlet; modulation of acute infection may be as important for
transmission reduction as prevention of infection altogether, etc. Good luck
and I'm sorry to miss you in Vancouver. Sten
Date: 6/18/96 11:40 PM
To: Sten Vermund
From: [email protected]
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From: "Weniger, Bruce" <[email protected]>
To: "Johnston, Peggy (IAVI)" <[email protected]>,
"Lu, Yichen (Virus Res Inst)"
<[email protected]>,
"Nelson, Kenrad (JHU)" <[email protected]>,
"'Burke, Don (WRAIR/HJF)"' <[email protected]>,
'"Francis, Don (Genenvax)"'
<[email protected]>,
"Esparza, Jose (UNAIDS)" <[email protected]>
To: "Halstead, Scott (USN)"
<[email protected]>,
"Heyward, William (UNAIDS)" <[email protected]>,
"McNeil, John (WRAIR/HJF)" <[email protected]>,
"Clements, Mary Lou (JHU)"
<[email protected]>,
"Essex, Max (Harvard SPH)"
<[email protected]>,
"Fast, Pat (NIH)" <[email protected]>,
"Russell, Philip (@aol.com)" <[email protected]>
To: '"Dorman, Burt (Acrogen)'" <[email protected]>,
"Berkley, Seth (Rock.Fdn.)"
<[email protected]>,
"Vermund, Sten (U Ala)" <[email protected]>,
"Cates, Ward (HIVNET/FHI)" <[email protected]>,
"Snow, Bill (ActUp-GG)" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Mbidde, Edward (alt address)"
<[email protected]>,
"Mbidde, E.K. (Uganda)" <[email protected]>
Subject: Vaccine Policy Debate at Vancouver
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 96 12:27:00 EST
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Dear Colleagues,
The organizers of the Vancouver AIDS conference have
scheduled an approximately 30-minute debate on Tuesday, 9 July on the
following resolution:

"HIV Vaccines: Resolved that more fundamental research in vaccine
development is required prior to the implementation of phase III trials of
HIV vaccines."