New report finds first decline in HIV vaccine R&D investment in a decadeCAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new report
on investment in HIV prevention research in 2008 finds that HIV vaccine
research funding levels decreased for the first time since investment trends
have been tracked. This may have been influenced by shifts in scientific
priorities, the declining economy and competing priorities in the larger
global health agenda. Despite this decrease, the overall trend since 2000 has
been of increasing investment for experimental biomedical prevention
strategies.
The report, Adapting to Realities: Trends in HIV Prevention Research
Funding 2000 to 2008, was released at the 5th International AIDS Society
Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Cape Town South
Africa by the HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Resource Tracking Working Group. It
is available online at www.hivresourcetracking.org.
The report identified investments of almost $1.2 billion in HIV
prevention research in 2008, of which $868 million supported vaccine R&D, and
$244 million supported microbicide R&D, while other HIV prevention R&D
received much lower levels of funding. AIDS vaccine research declined for the
first time since 2000, falling by ten percent from 2007 levels. At the same
time, funding for both microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
increased by eight and 13 percent, respectively.
Funding for HIV prevention research remains a relatively small percentage
of the overall response to HIV/AIDS. A recent report released by the Kaiser
Family Foundation and UNAIDS documented commitments from the developed world
for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs in developing countries of $8.7
billion in 2008, up from $6.6 billion the previous year.
"Research to develop new HIV prevention tools and strategies is essential
to prevent new infections, and an HIV vaccine still holds the greatest hope to
ending the epidemic," said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "It is
vitally important that investments into research for HIV prevention be
sustained and increased for as long as it takes to reach those goals."
The Resource Tracking Working Group identified a critical need in this
time of shifting budget priorities and economic uncertainty for the HIV
prevention research field to identify funding needs and put in place
scientific plans to help guide research decisions. These steps will ensure
that there is no duplication of efforts and that funding can be linked
efficiently to scientific priorities.
"Support and interest in HIV prevention research from public, private and
philanthropic funders over the last decade has supported key R&D priorities,
moved the field forward and brought us closer to new HIV prevention options,"
said Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC. "We face tremendous
challenges - both scientific and economic - over the coming years, but we must
not lose the momentum we have gained. The field needs sustained support from a
range of funders. The AIDS epidemic shows no signs of slowing, and the
desperate need for new HIV prevention options will not change."
Levels of funding in 2008 reflected key shifts in the HIV prevention
research field. The halting in late 2007 of the Step and Phambili vaccine
trials, which were testing a candidate vaccine developed by Merck, ended one
of the only pharmaceutical company partnerships for HIV vaccine R&D. This
slowing in industry involvement is reflected by a decline in industry funding
levels in 2008. Pharmaceuticals and biotech companies in 2008 accounted for
only four percent of HIV vaccine research funding. Levels were even lower
across other HIV prevention research priorities. Nevertheless, the commercial
sector contributes to the development of HIV prevention research in a number
of ways through pharmaceutical company support. A number of companies have
provided ARV compounds for development as potential microbicides, and as oral
PrEP, along with technical support to microbicide product developers.
"The worldwide economic crisis has fueled debate about the best way to
invest in global health, with some arguing that AIDS takes up resources at the
expense of efforts to deal with other diseases and to improve health systems
in the developing world. But given that AIDS is the number one killer in
sub-Saharan Africa, and number four in the world, it is imperative that we
reverse this pandemic, and that can only be done through improved methods of
prevention, including a vaccine. If we can conquer AIDS, we will be able to
invest resources in other pressing priorities," said Seth Berkley, President
and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.
It is important to note that HIV vaccine research and development is
continuing to move forward. Just today, the South African AIDS Vaccine
Initiative announced the start of a trial to study a vaccine candidate
developed by local South African scientists. Results are also expected later
this year from the largest vaccine trial ever, which successfully enrolled
more than 16,000 participants. In addition, researchers around the world are
developing new vaccine approaches and conducting basic research to inform
vaccine development.
The report notes that increased investment in microbicide R&D may reflect
increased interest in research on antiretroviral (ARV)-based candidates.
Investment increased in microbicides overall at the same time that the field
intensified its focus on ARV-based approaches to microbicide development.
"Increased funding for microbicide R&D over the past decade has fostered
a major expansion for the field; clinical trials of microbicide candidates
have been conducted in 27 countries around the world; and pre-clinical
research has yielded important scientific information. Support from public,
private and philanthropic funders is essential to increase R&D for new
microbicide candidates," said Polly Harrison, Director of the Alliance for
Microbicide Development.
The U.S. government was once again the primary funder for HIV prevention
research, supporting 71 percent of HIV vaccine R&D, 63 percent of microbicide
R&D, and providing 46 percent of funding for PrEP prevention research in 2008.
A decrease in investment from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
contributed to the overall decline of funding for HIV vaccine R&D. The U.S.
government investment fell by $39 million, a six percent decrease. Other
governments also decreased funding for HIV vaccine research in 2008: European
government funding fell by 13 percent and total funding from other countries
(including Brazil, Canada, India, South Africa, and Thailand) fell by 16
percent.
The report authors caution that while it is too early to attribute all of
the funding decreases to the financial crisis, there is concern that a
prolonged global recession could have a major impact on public investment in
all HIV/AIDS programs. A recent report from UNAIDS and the World Bank found
that the economic crisis has already affected levels of funding for treatment
and prevention programs in some developing countries.
The Working Group also reported on investment in operational research
related to proven biomedical HIV prevention research interventions - medical
male circumcision and ARVs for prevention of vertical transmission of HIV from
mother to child. These efforts are being funded at much lower levels that
other HIV prevention research, with $11 million supporting research related to
rollout of male circumcision and $21 million supporting operations research
for prevention of vertical transmission.
The HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group was
established in 2004 to generate and disseminate high-quality, detailed and
comparable data on annual investments in preventive HIV vaccine and
microbicide research and development (R&D), and policy and advocacy
activities. These data can be used to monitor current levels of effort;
identify trends in investment, spending, and research focus; identify areas
needing more resources and effort; assess the impact of public policies aimed
at increasing investment in new prevention technologies (NPTs); and provide a
fact base for policy advocacy on R&D investments and allocations. The Working
Group is comprised of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), the Alliance
for Microbicide Development (AMD), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
(IAVI) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). More
information is available online at www.hivresourcetracking.org.
For further information: Mitchell Warren of AVAC, in South Africa,
+1-914-661-1536, mitchell@avac.org; Rachel Steinhardt, +1-212-847-1045,
rsteinhardt@iavi.org, for IAVIl; or Polly Harrison, +1-301-588-8091,
pharrison@microbicide.org, for AMD; or Sophie Barton-Knott, +41 22 791 1697,
bartonknotts@unaids.org, for UNAIDS Web Site:
http://www.hivresourcetracking.org
