I'm sure at some point this will get moved to P&R but here we go.....


Japanese firm's AIDS vaccine effective in animals

TOKYO -- DNAVEC Corp., a venture firm based in Tsukuba, Japan, has begun developing a new AIDS vaccine in cooperation with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the world's largest institution for AIDS study and prevention, sources said Saturday.

The company's prototype vaccine has been highly effective in animal experiments. DNAVEC plans to improve the product to start clinical tests on humans in about three years.

Though medical institutions worldwide are working on a vaccine for AIDS, none have been developed for practical use. DNAVEC's predecessor was a company jointly established by an affiliated corporation of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and pharmaceutical firms.

DNAVEC owns the patent for a technology that produces vaccines by inserting part of genes of disease-causing microbes into the Sendai virus, which was discovered in Japan. DNAVEC's AIDS vaccine can be sprayed into the nose, stimulating several types of immune cells through the mucous membranes in the nasal passages. Another advantage of the vaccine is that it does not adversely affect normal cells in the body, as the vaccine components do not impact human DNA.

When DNAVEC and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases jointly tested the vaccine on monkeys, they discovered that the vaccine not only prevented AIDS infections but also slowed the reproduction of the virus in monkeys that were already infected.

IAVI, DNAVEC's partner in the project, is a New York-based institution that receives major financial aid from donors that include Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates.

IAVI will provide billions of yen for development costs from the stages of designing the vaccine to the application for government approval.

IAVI has conducted clinical tests of six types of AIDS vaccines in other countries, including Thailand. However, DNAVEC's vaccine is expected to provide a longer protection period than other vaccines, according to medical experts.

DNAVEC President Mamoru Hasegawa said the company plans to start clinical trials in the United States and Africa in three years, aiming to put the vaccine into practical use eight years later.

(c) Copyright 2007, Centre Daily Times. All Rights Reserved.

it might be too early yet but

An interesting and encouraging article. Yet when reading it, something disturbed me. How were the monkeys infected in the first place? Can animals contract sexually transmitted diseases?
[Edited 7/10/07 14:26pm]

JDInteractive said:

It is believed that the AIDS virus originated in monkeys.

Genesia said:

THere is also a form of feline AIDS.

For some reason, lions and wild cats have the virus (some prides have 70% infection rate), but none of them actually get sick and develope AIDS. Domesticated cats, however, do. Scientist have been trying to figure that out.

Even if it works, the money involved means it won't see consumer usage for 25-30 years.

JDInteractive said:

sheep get syphillis
cats get FIV
dogs get transmissible veneral tumor
monkeys get SIV
and almost all animals get herpes...

JDInteractive said:

I'm not an expert but I suppose they can.
However, I would bet 10$ that the ones used in such tests are infected on purpose at the lab.

This way the scientists can observe how the sickness developes from the very start and in which stage it is most vulnerable to the developed cure.
[Edited 7/10/07 14:45pm]

This is a really interesting topic, and now when I raise the question, I am sure it will get sent to P&R.

This is for a worthwhile cause, and I completely commend it. But how many animal rights people/activists even DARE oppose this.

I will sit back and read. It will be interesting.

Imago said:

baboons are the only old world primate that do not die from HIV and related viruses.

JasmineFire said:

i think i heard it mention humans got syphillis from someone getting it from a sheep.

JasmineFire said:

little hussies

rushing07 said:

Yep, they infect them in the lab.

Primate research sucks, but as long as it's being done, I hope it WORKS.

rushing07 said:

they've done it to humans, I'm sure they are purposely infecting the animals.


I received this via our interoffice email at work but it didn't have a link.

I'll try to get it.

:thumbsup:If this is a definate cure... Now make sure it will be available to EVERYONE including Africa

AndGodCreatedMe said:

I just don't want them starting the vaccine in Africa.


Start in Europe or the US first.

Rhondab said:

I meant that well..

But I hear you

AndGodCreatedMe said:

oh I know you did...I was just making a statement.

Rhondab said:

I know


we need to get that out louder

in related news i have more the 300 tcells for the first time in 4 years

ehuffnsd said:

ehuffnsd said:

Rhondab said:

I can bet 20$ that if any AIDS cure will be first tested in Africa.
Such tests are being done on a daily basis, I think.

rushing07 said:

there are two differnt viruses though HIV-1 which infects those in Western Europe and America and HIV-2 which is more in Africa.

Lothan said:

thanks my goal is 500. i'll never get back to 900 but it's better than 230.

ehuffnsd said:

I know this...BUT nonetheless let the testing first start in Europe and the US. I don't trust any experimentation in Africa. We have more laws for research and clinical trials.


and CONGRATSSSSS on the tcells.....hows your viral load?

bump! (for a good topic)

Rhondab said:

Viral load has been zero for a couple years. the tcells though kept falling. and more importantly my precentage of tcells to other WBC which has always been high has gone up even more.

Africa is giong to get the focus. This adminstration and many people in this country don't think HIV is an American problem anymore.

thank you Ronda for this thread.
i am learning.