Drop In R&D Funding For HIV Vaccine

Global research funding for HIV vaccine decreased by 10 percent in 2008 from the previous year, representing the first time the levels have fallen since investment trends have been tracked, according to a new report. The report was released this week by the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group, an initiative of UNAIDS and several non-governmental groups. The report shows a decline of US$93 million in 2008 with the biggest decrease coming from the United States National Institutes of Health whose investment fell by $39 million, a 6 percent decrease. While part of the drop could be due to the economic downturn, the report suggests that it is largely attributable to a shift in research priorities from HIV vaccine toward basic research. This occurred after negative results from two recently completed clinical trials on HIV vaccines [pdf].

During 2008, public-sector funders provided 84 percent (US$731 million) of total R&D funding, and the philanthropic sector 12 percent (US$104 million), while the commercial sector accounted for only 4 percent or US$33 million, according to the report.

The report, available here [pdf], was released at the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention on 19-22 July in Cape Town, South Africa.