With over 33 million people now living with HIV and millions more people becoming infected every year, the search for a vaccine is a critical part of a comprehensive and sustainable response to HIV. And there is good scientific evidence to suggest that an AIDS vaccine is possible.
The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative commissioned the George Institute for International Health to undertake a study. The views of over 30 stakeholders including public sector researchers, biotechnology firms, large pharmaceutical companies, and investors are due to be published later this year.
Preliminary findings suggest that interviewees find scarce and fragmented funding of European academic research an important limitation for both the quality and quantity of innovative ideas. Results also suggests that collaborations between public research labs and biotech firms are a much needed model for mobilising biotech involvement in AIDS vaccine R&D, so long as the industry contribution is adequately funded and collaborations involve relatively small numbers of partners.
The study established the following ideas for accelerating progress in AIDS vaccine research:
A vaccine R&D “incubator” that could conduct translational research in priority areas, including HIV vaccines. The incubator, which might be hosted by 2-3 leading European universities would have dedicated R&D staff and lab infrastructure.
Prizes for biotechs who solve pre-specified technological challenges. The prizes would stimulate biotech involvement in HIV vaccine R&D through the prospect of substantial financial returns.
Financing mechanisms that fill the funding gap between public and private research and facilitate collaboration.
Packages of early facilitation measures, which would be designed to lower costs and remove administrative obstacles to HIV vaccine R&D, and could include waivers of patent fees and fast-track regulatory approval for HIV vaccine candidates.
Innovation is vital to renew and broaden the HIV vaccine pipeline and there is significant scope for stimulating innovative approaches by the private sector, especially smaller biotechnology firms. The potential solutions identified in the study must now be tested with private sector stakeholders. If well-designed and attractive to the private sector, it is likely that their implementation by policy makers could help bring substantial change in innovative HIV vaccine R&D. At a minimum, it is our intention that governments, particularly within Europe, use this research as a starting point and review the specific incentives within their countries that might most effectively stimulate vaccine R&D innovation that will serve best low and middle income country needs.
If you have any comments or require further information contact IAVI Secretariat.
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