A Statement From Larry Corey, MD, of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network Regarding the New HIV Infection Statistics Released Today by the Centers for Disea...( SEATTLE Aug. 2 /- The federal go...)

SEATTLE, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- "The federal government's ability to more exactly measure the number of new HIV infections in the United States annually is a great statistical tool -- but that is all that it is. I interpret the new numbers this way: They remind us that HIV/AIDS continues to be a real public health problem in this country as well as in many developing nations around the globe. Despite recent setbacks in developing an effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection, I believe that a vaccine is our most promising weapon against new infections. The research community's commitment to find a vaccine must not waver."

Dr. Corey is the Principal Investigator of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and co-director of the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, both at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA.

About the HIV Vaccine Trials Network

The HVTN is an international collaboration of scientists and institutions whose goal is to accelerate the search for an HIV vaccine by sharing trial results and facilitating parallel, concurrent testing. The HVTN is a unique hybrid that combines the depth and diversity of the academic community and the flexibility of a commercial drug company. Working with industry and government, the HVTN seeks to expedite and coordinate the trial process, advancing vaccine candidates and building a body of knowledge about HIV vaccine trials. The HVTN is supported through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is a component of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The Network and NIAID have a close, cooperative working relationship, with shared attention to the intellectual and scientific issues.

Contact: Sarah Alexander

206-910-3801

salex@hvtn.org