Traderboersenboard - Einzelnen Beitrag anzeigen - Merck

Tester32 · 25-01-2005, 09:33

Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:22 PM ET

By Ransdell Pierson

NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it has begun a mid-stage trial of a vaccine to determine if it can prevent infection by HIV or treat patients who are already infected with the virus.

Unlike conventional vaccines that coax the body to create antibodies against a target virus, Merck said its vaccine is designed to coax immune system killer cells -- called T-cells -- to attack the virus that causes AIDS.

"Merck's vaccine is especially promising because it has most consistently stimulated activity by 'killer' T-cells," said Dr. Susan Buchbinder, director of HIV research for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, who helped design the new trial.

Merck said the vaccine -- made of synthetic components that cannot cause infection with HIV -- would be administered to people at high risk of infection with HIV, in North America, South America, the Caribbean and Australia.

The trial, expected to last more than four years, aims to determine if the vaccine can prevent infection and/or maintain lower amounts of virus in people who may become infected during the study. Some volunteers will receive the vaccine, while others will receive a placebo.

Researchers cautioned it could take many years or decades for an effective HIV vaccine to emerge, if ever, although Merck's approach is considered to be one of the most promising and farthest along in testing. Other companies developing HIV vaccines include Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Chiron Corp. (CHIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) .

Merck's "proof-of-concept" study is being conducted in collaboration with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, an international collaboration of scientists that is partially funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

"If data generated by the study show that the vaccine candidate provides some protection against HIV, or delays or diminishes the course of HIV infection, this information will guide future research," Merck and the Network group said in a joint release.

The Phase II trial will include 1,500 male and female volunteers ages 18 to 45 of diverse racial groups, all of whom will receive counseling on how to reduce their risk of HIV infection.

The vaccine will consist of three synthetically produced HIV genes -- called gag, pol and nef. They are loaded into a weakened cold virus, the adenovirus, that acts as a delivery vehicle.

The three genes are found in the core of the virus and are believed to be essential to its reproduction. Other HIV vaccines, including one developed by VaxGen Inc. (VXGN.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) that proved ineffective in a large trial, contain synthetic copies of proteins found on the shell of the virus.

Merck and the trials network in 2003 began a smaller Phase I international trial of another HIV vaccine. It also uses the weakened cold virus but delivers only one of the synthetically made genes -- gag.

About 40 million people globally are believed to be infected with HIV and a vaccine is considered the best hope of controlling the growing epidemic now in its third decade.

Although cocktails of drugs can control the virus, many patients develop resistance to the medicines and the drugs are financially out of reach to most people in poor countries -- including those in Africa and Asia -- where the epidemic is taking its greatest toll.

Shares of Merck were down 28 cents at $30.08 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a slight downturn for the drug sector.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Meine Meinung: Eine Impfung gegen AIDS wäre eine sehr schöne Sache. Wäre (rein menschlich) schade, wenn dieses Mittel nicht alle Phasen der klinischen Studien passieren würde.

25-01-2005, 09:33	#72
Tester32 TBB Family Registriert seit: Jan 2004 Beiträge: 2.209	Merck begins mid-stage trial of HIV vaccine Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:22 PM ET By Ransdell Pierson NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it has begun a mid-stage trial of a vaccine to determine if it can prevent infection by HIV or treat patients who are already infected with the virus. Unlike conventional vaccines that coax the body to create antibodies against a target virus, Merck said its vaccine is designed to coax immune system killer cells -- called T-cells -- to attack the virus that causes AIDS. "Merck's vaccine is especially promising because it has most consistently stimulated activity by 'killer' T-cells," said Dr. Susan Buchbinder, director of HIV research for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, who helped design the new trial. Merck said the vaccine -- made of synthetic components that cannot cause infection with HIV -- would be administered to people at high risk of infection with HIV, in North America, South America, the Caribbean and Australia. The trial, expected to last more than four years, aims to determine if the vaccine can prevent infection and/or maintain lower amounts of virus in people who may become infected during the study. Some volunteers will receive the vaccine, while others will receive a placebo. Researchers cautioned it could take many years or decades for an effective HIV vaccine to emerge, if ever, although Merck's approach is considered to be one of the most promising and farthest along in testing. Other companies developing HIV vaccines include Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Chiron Corp. (CHIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) . Merck's "proof-of-concept" study is being conducted in collaboration with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, an international collaboration of scientists that is partially funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "If data generated by the study show that the vaccine candidate provides some protection against HIV, or delays or diminishes the course of HIV infection, this information will guide future research," Merck and the Network group said in a joint release. The Phase II trial will include 1,500 male and female volunteers ages 18 to 45 of diverse racial groups, all of whom will receive counseling on how to reduce their risk of HIV infection. The vaccine will consist of three synthetically produced HIV genes -- called gag, pol and nef. They are loaded into a weakened cold virus, the adenovirus, that acts as a delivery vehicle. The three genes are found in the core of the virus and are believed to be essential to its reproduction. Other HIV vaccines, including one developed by VaxGen Inc. (VXGN.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) that proved ineffective in a large trial, contain synthetic copies of proteins found on the shell of the virus. Merck and the trials network in 2003 began a smaller Phase I international trial of another HIV vaccine. It also uses the weakened cold virus but delivers only one of the synthetically made genes -- gag. About 40 million people globally are believed to be infected with HIV and a vaccine is considered the best hope of controlling the growing epidemic now in its third decade. Although cocktails of drugs can control the virus, many patients develop resistance to the medicines and the drugs are financially out of reach to most people in poor countries -- including those in Africa and Asia -- where the epidemic is taking its greatest toll. Shares of Merck were down 28 cents at $30.08 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a slight downturn for the drug sector. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. Meine Meinung: Eine Impfung gegen AIDS wäre eine sehr schöne Sache. Wäre (rein menschlich) schade, wenn dieses Mittel nicht alle Phasen der klinischen Studien passieren würde.