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February 07, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"South Africa; Development of HIV Vaccine Given a Boost"

Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (02/06/03)

The South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI), the group responsible for testing and developing AIDS drugs for the South African nation, has become the beneficiary of a four-year donation program created by the corporation Eskom that will provide the organization with 15 million rand per year in funds to advance the development of vaccines for HIV. According to SAAVI, Eskom has already provided the group with 37 million rand in donations, based on the firm's concern for the future of the country and its own business, with Steve Lennon, managing director of Eskom's resources and strategy division, noting that "we have estimated that by 2005, the 550 to 600 new AIDS cases a year in our organization will add 275 to 300 million rand to the costs of the business annually."  SAAVI is also helped by 20 million rand in annual donations from the government, as well as financial help from commercial businesses, non-government organizations, international groups like the European Union, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.  SAAVI claims to be in late-stage laboratory testing of a number of vaccines for HIV subtype C, and indicated in mid-2002 that it was in the process of deciding which vaccines seemed good candidates for manufacturing and early clinical testing this year.

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