A.i.d.s. Vaccine May Be Tested On Animals (Press, 29 May 1987)

On 29 May 1987, there was significant progress reported by a French research team towards developing an effective AIDS vaccine, particularly with respect to animal testing methods. Professor Luc Montagnier, from the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the discoverer of the two types of the human AIDS virus, expressed optimism that a reliable method for testing AIDS vaccines on animals could be established within the year. Currently, the challenge arises from the fact that although some human volunteers have been vaccinated in trials to measure immune system responses, there is no ethically acceptable way to determine vaccine efficacy through human infection, as no one is willing to be deliberately infected with the AIDS virus. Animal testing would enable researchers to assess whether the vaccine can actually provide protection when exposed to the virus, a crucial step in the vaccine development process. However, there are limitations in finding suitable animal models for testing, as very few animals are truly sensitive to the AIDS virus. For instance, chimpanzees, which are endangered, are not used in research since they do not contract AIDS. Professor Montagnier noted that for the second type of the virus, HIV-2, which is closely related to certain monkey viruses, other primates such as macaques or baboons might serve as better research models. In parallel, concerns were raised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the implementation of AIDS screening programmes in various countries. WHO Director Dr Jonathan Mann cautioned that these initiatives could be misconceived and poorly executed, risking fundamental human rights while likely proving to be extremely costly and largely ineffective. He stated that such screening efforts might detract resources from education and other HIV prevention programmes that are essential to combat the disease effectively. Overall, while the advancements in animal testing methods represent a promising advancement in AIDS vaccine research, the dialogue surrounding AIDS screening highlights the complexity and ethical considerations involved in managing and preventing the disease.

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