Sibal gets going on AIDS vaccine

Sibal, who was included in the group that planned the draft legislation on HIV, aims to form an inter-ministerial committee, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Biotechnology, for streamlining the research on development of AIDS vaccine in India. His plan includes collaboration in vaccine development and selection of just one vaccine for research.

Sibal has sought a report on the status of the vaccine and has even met senior Health officials and those from the Biotechnology department regarding the same. ‘‘Currently both ministries are busy in developing their own AIDS vaccine. But I believe the best thing would be to pool in the resources and come up with one vaccine which has more chances of success in the clinical stages,’’ said Sibal.

The decision might also be relevant following the deferring of the much-hyped clinical trials on humans by the Health Ministry and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). While officials are tight-lipped about the reason, sources say the trials may not begin as per schedule.

Sibal told The Indian Express this step will ensure there is no setback in case a vaccine fails. ‘‘We have to begin with choosing the best and then, if that fails we can go to the next.’’

Confirming that research collaboration is in the offing, Health Secretary J.V.R. Prasada Rao said the two ministries were working out a possibility of a combined research agenda. ‘‘Officials of the Department of Biotechnology and ICMR are working on a concept paper. We are waiting for it and can take a decision only after it comes out,’’ said Rao.

While Sibal’s ministry is developing a ‘candidate vaccine’ at AIIMS under the National Jai Vigyan Science & Technology Mission (Biotechnology Dept), the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Health Ministry, the IAVI and NACO are working on another vaccine, research on which started in 1996. The vaccine is undergoing preclinical toxicological studies. The candidate vaccine is based on plasmid DNA and it too is ready for preclinical toxicological studies.