Checking in on the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise

As we've written previously, we're interested in the quest for a vaccine against HIV, what some consider to be the Holy Grail of infectious disease research. One of the most innovative aspects of HIV vaccine research is the creation of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, a multinational consortium first proposed by leading researchers in 2003 and shortly thereafter supported by the G8 nations and the Gates Foundation.

Supporters of the Enterprise argue that it will foster collaboration, reduce dead-end experiments, and lead to more rapid progress in overcoming the significant scientific obstacles to a vaccine. Others wonder if consolidating much of HIV vaccine research under a large umbrella will stifle the creative ideas that sometimes, despite long odds, lead to breakthroughs. It's far too early to tell who's right, but if successful, the Enterprise model may have applications throughout vaccine research.

On Friday, the Chicago Tribune published a story about the initiative. No 'news' in the story, but a nice overview of the Enterprise and its rationale.

There was news regarding the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise last week, though the announcement likely occurred too late for the Tribune story. Adel Mahmoud, the former president of Merck Vaccines, was named chief executive of the alliance, effective September 1. Here's the press release.