UN says African AIDS vaccine programme needs $233 million

Just ahead of an international gathering aimed at generating funds for the African AIDS vaccine programme, the United Nations today announced that the effort would cost $233 million.

The Joint UN Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said that when African scientists, multilateral and donor organizations, research agencies and industry experts convene in Cape Town next week, they will strive to raise this sum while accelerating research and testing for the development of an AIDS vaccine for the continent.

Of the more than 30 HIV vaccine trials conducted globally since 1987, only two were carried out in Africa. UNAIDS pointed out that because certain strains of HIV present in Africa are different from found in other parts of the world, current vaccines tested in Asia or the United States may not be appropriate for Africans.

Two thirds of all people living with HIV are in Africa. According to the UN, African vaccine research currently receives only $41 million – or less than 2 per cent – of the $2.5 billion spent on HIV research annually.

“A vaccine for Africa would be the best long-term preventive measure against AIDS,” said Dr. Peter Piot, the Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Enormous efforts should go into this initiative, which could help address the health and development tragedy that AIDS has become for many African countries.”

Yasuhiro Suzuki, Executive Director for Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals at WHO, said the expense was relatively low. “Considering that the average cost of developing a new prescription drug in the United States is $800 million, $233 million to save many lives seems a very inexpensive price tag.”

Fifteen west African countries have already pledged $50.000 for the vaccine initiative, which was also endorsed by the African leaders during the continent’s 2001 Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, held in Abuja, Nigeria.