Anticipation grows for AIDS vaccine

Boston Globe ^ | 12/23/02 | Raja Mishra

[hoosierskypilot]

Scientists have finished the first human trial of an AIDS vaccine, a mammoth $200 million, 5,400-patient effort more than a decade in the making.

Within three months, the vaccine's maker, California-based VaxGen Inc., will reveal whether simple injections can protect against the world's most feared viral killer. Already, the Food and Drug Administration has granted the vaccine fast-track status that would speed it through the approval process, if it proves effective, for public availability.

Public health researchers have long believed that only vaccines can reverse the global HIV epidemic infecting more than 30 million people, most in the developing world. This trial remains the only short-term hope: The next large-scale vaccine trials will not be completed until around 2010.

The much-anticipated experiment unfolded in hundreds on North American examination rooms, including some in Boston. Doctors injected gay men and heterosexuals with numerous sex partners with a clear solution: half were given the experimental HIV vaccine, which is designed to disrupt the virus' spreading mechanism. The rest received an inert placebo.

Though critics have questioned whether the vaccine is potent enough to truly reverse the epidemic, even pessimists say a partially effective vaccine could save thousands of lives in the AIDS-ravaged developing world where few can afford treatment.

[johnny7]

Condoms... a clean needle prevent AIDS from spreading.

Stupidity keeps it growing. What we have here is a case of “The Stupids”.

[ChemistCat]

Condoms...a clean needle...a clear moral compass: the reality is that there's a huge percentage of people who lack sufficient concern for themselves and their loved ones to use them.

Even then, it's not absolute proof. Rape and health care can expose anyone at any time.

Can you imagine what the liberals will do though if deprived of this issue? "Oh, you uncaring conservatives, you don't care that AIDS is killing off our prime constituency..."

[B. Rabbit]

Look at all of the time, money, and effort that went into the production of the vaccine. Yet, I guarantee, within 1 year every "developing" nation in the world will be demanding it for basically no cost. That is the tragedy of this article.

"We need it, you have it, we're poor, you're rich, give us whatever we ask for."

I can already hear the American liberals echoing the command given to us by these no-rights, no freedom, no law nations.

[ChemistCat]

Well, it is the lot of the man who didn't fall among thieves to care for those who have. There surely is no greater thief than a fatal disease. I'm not saying it makes economic sense to do it, but I know it makes moral sense. We eliminated smallpox....

(we hope)

It's going to happen anyway if the vaccine works. No one notices how much good pharmaceutical companies have done...and if they are not shrinking from curing the source of profit...that's a wonderful thing, and only Western Civilization can claim credit for this degree of philanthropism. How many diseases has Islam cured?

[B. Rabbit]

Excellent points, and you are probably better read on the subject then I am. However:

"and only Western Civilization can claim credit for this degree of philanthropism"

To warp a cliche, crap in one hand and put all of your claimed credit in the other and see which one fills up the fastest. Pharm Corporations haven't died because of the exploitation of their products... yet.

[Abcdefg]

Damned if I'll trust a condom to save me from screwing, or being screwed by, strangers. Same with clean needles.
Keep your pecker in your pants and leave the drugs alone, else live with the consequences. Yeah, it's a shame what people do to themselves. You would have to lock them in a cage to make them stop killing themselves.
The only ones I really feel sorry for are the ones who didn't do this to themselves.
I was reading a story a couple of years ago about kids in Dallas who played a game of darting across railroad tracks in front of trains, trying to see who could cut it the closest. Well, you know what happened. Then the parents blamed the railroad and refused to believe they and their kids were responsible.

[toddst]

Pharm Corporations haven't died because of the exploitation of their products... yet.

Well, newbie, this is the best you can do by way of introducing yourself to FR? I doubt you'll be around here long.

[B. Rabbit]

Newbie. Ahhh, I love it. Just like high school when the new kid moves from Texas. The same maturity level as well. The statements I made are completely and severely capitalistic, if you do not follow them, then perhaps it is you that shouldn't be around here. The give-away of American products to other countries without payment is the advancement of a socialist agenda. Our pharm corporations, with the money and time spent on the development of new drugs, are throwing it all away when we distribute them without payment throughout the world.

[ChemistCat]

Sir, I'm a lady, and I do not appreciate being spoken to in that crude way. We're human beings out here, not computers making arguments to provoke you. I didn't do anything to you but politely remark on your first, sensible, point.

[toddst]

The give-away of American products to other countries without payment is the advancement of a socialist agenda. Our pharm corporations, with the money and time spent on the development of new drugs, are throwing it all away when we distribute them without payment throughout the world.

And why didn't you express yourself in this way the first time? Why the crudeness, as objected to by ChemistCat? Join in without all the shock-effect and low behavior or take a hike.

[B. Rabbit]

I'm truly sorry if I offended. I must tone it down. I am extremely passionate about many of these issues. If I say a bad word in your mind, please disregard it as a young, passionate conservative letting emotions infiltrate into his logic. I did concede to your intelligence on the matter, and I wasn't trying to offend at all.

Again, sorry