(a) whether the National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune has conducted clinical trial
of AIDS vaccine in February 2005;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for conducting such a trial in India;
(c) whether NARI has received funds from foreign donors to conduct the said trial in India;and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a):Yes sir, the Phase I vaccine trial of an HIV vaccine was carried out at NARI, Pune in
February 2005.
(b):The Phase I clinical trial with AAV vaccine was initiated at NARI, Pune on 7th February,2005
A total of 30 volunteers were enrolled in the trial. The results of the trial showed that this
vaccine is well tolerated and safe in the 3 dosages used. It is weakly immunogenic in current
doses. The trial also showed that there is evidence of high baseline titer of AAV2 neutralizing
antibody in Indian population as compared to European participants. Since vaccines have proven
to be cost effective tool for control of many infectious diseases, preventive vaccine against
HIV may also prove to be very useful tool for controlling spread of HIV in India. Hence efforts
are ongoing to develop an effective preventive HIV vaccine.
(c):Yes, NARI received funds from foreign donors to conduct the trial in India
(d):There is a tripartite agreement between the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), The
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)
for carrying out HIV/AIDS vaccine research in India. It was under this agreement that NARI
received Rs.2.5 crores from IAVI to carry out this trial.