HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc269-70W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department has allocated for research into HIV/AIDS subtype A vaccines in Eastern Africa; what progress is being made towards a vaccine for the HIV/AIDS subtype A virus; and if she will make a statement. [98992]

Clare Short

My Department has been funding the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) since 1998. Our current 5-year, £14 million, programme of support began in January 2000.

IAVI has eight vaccine constructs under development, all specifically aimed at the HIV strains most prevalent in developing countries. Trials in various phases are planned for each of these over the next 2–5 years. The candidate vaccines currently being developed by the Medical Research Council, and Oxford and Nairobi Universities are aimed at combating the subtype A strain of HIV most common in East Africa.

The Oxford-Nairobi trial is making significant progress. The vaccine candidate has progressed from the laboratory to approval for initial human testing in 18 months and is the first vaccine designed specifically for Africa to be tested in humans. Phase I and II trials are now ongoing in Oxford and Kenya. IAVI hope to move into Phase III efficacy trials by 2005.