MELBOURNE (Reuters Health) Oct 08 - Scientists are increasingly optimistic
that an AIDS vaccine will be available in the next 6 to 10 years, although
the first one may not be 100% effective, researchers said on Sunday.

And because the design of any ultimately successful vaccine is not yet
known, the cost could exceed $100, affecting the vaccine's availability in
the developing countries that are worst hit by HIV/AIDS.

Attendants at the sixth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the
Pacific were told that results from the most promising trial so far
could be
available as early as next month.

"There's never been more optimism than there is now that an HIV vaccine can
be identified," said Dr. Margaret Johnston, assistant director for AIDS
vaccines at the US National Institutes of Health.

"There are many designs that have proven highly successful in animal models
and we have a vibrant pipeline of products that are now being tested," Dr.
Johnston said. "I have enormous confidence there will be a vaccine."

Dr. Johnston said the leading vaccine candidate, VaxGen Inc.'s AIDSVAX
is in
phase III testing and interim results from its North American testing could
be available as early as next month. The vaccine, which is also being
tested
in Thailand and the Netherlands, works by inducing antibodies to HIV.

Another promising vaccine candidate, Aventis SA's ALVAC, is in phase II
testing and could progress to the final stage in the next year or 18
months.
Several candidates are in early phase I trials and there is a long list of
potential candidates in pre-clinical development.

"The soonest we can have a vaccine is maybe 4 to 5 years from now - and
that
is wildly optimistic," Dr. Johnston said, adding that 6 to 10 years was a
more likely timeframe. "And the chances are the first one we identify will
not be 100% effective."

Participants of the 5-day conference, which has attracted about 3000
scientists, health workers and activists from across the region, were also
told the world risked being distracted from the fight against AIDS because
of the September 11th attacks on the US.

"The world is understandably deeply preoccupied with the events of
September
11, but we cannot allow this tragedy and the shockwaves which follow to
distract from HIV/AIDS," Penny Wensley, former Australian ambassador to the
United Nations, said.

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