AHF reiterates its disappointment over the presentation of Thai HIV vaccine study data

In anticipation of today’s controversial presentation of the Thai HIV vaccine study data at the AIDS Vaccine Conference in Paris, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) reiterated its disappointment at the news that data that seriously undermined the purported success of the trial were not released publicly when other, more favorable data were reported late last month. The release of only partial—and favorable—data, which showed initial efficacy in approximately one third of the Thai vaccine trial participants, led to worldwide favorable publicity for the thought-to-be-promising vaccine effort, which was conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US Army and Thailand.

“The doubts that have been raised prior to today’s presentation regarding the possible misrepresentation of the results of the $105 million study—funded by the NIH and the U.S. Military—has already harmed the credibility of AIDS vaccine research. Without an independent body evaluating the decisions of the NIH, the erosion of public opinion is sure to continue,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Such oversight will ensure that the millions of dollars in research monies are being spent wisely and effectively, instead of squandered on large-scale clinical trials widely believed to be without promise. Without such oversight, the AIDS community runs the risk of a repeat of this latest debacle and the further undermining of support for such research.”