HIV Vaccines - Accelerating the Development of Preventive HIV Vaccines for the World: Summary Report and Recommendations of an International Meeting

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sequentially, will be a faster route to the development of safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccines
appropriate for widespread use. The primary focus of current efforts on the sub-types of HIV-1
found in developed countries may also delay the evaluation of candidate vaccines by restricting
the sites where clinical trials can be performed.
The unique nature of the HIV epidemic and its devastating potential consequences led the
participants at the Bellagio meeting to conclude that a new global initiative with the primary
mandate of accelerating the development of preventive HIV vaccines appropriate for worldwide
use should be established. A new global HIV vaccine initiative was viewed as the most effective
method to accelerate the development of safe and effective preventive HIV vaccines in the
shortest time possible. The initiative should focus on reducing the obstacles to vaccine
development and filling the gaps in the current effort. By focusing on the obstacles and gaps, the
initiative was seen as complementing, not competing with, existing national and international
activities. Success in developing an HIV vaccine will require the involvement of both the public
and private sectors. Collaborative ventures between the private and public sectors have been
fruitful in a number of other sectors in galvanizing product research and development, while still
respecting corporate profit motives and independence. A range of potential models and sources
of funding for the new initiative was suggested. A small funding secretariat, or task force, with an
international scientific steering committee was viewed as the most appropriate structure.