Lights Out For Merck's HIV Vaccine Program?

Perhaps underscoring ARW's suggestion re the need to explore alternative approaches to dealing with infectious disease, Merck have ended their phase II HIV vaccine trial due to lack of efficacy. This spells the end for their Adenovirus-based vector, the fruits of 20 years of R & D work. At least for the time being, they apparently have no specific plans to continue their HIV vaccine program.

Maybe a vector that induces a more vigorous immune response, such as VSV or vaccinia, will be more successful...and maybe Merck or competitors will be shopping around for new vector platforms in the near future...

Gene therapy in the eye

Finally, after much success in dogs and mice, the use of adenovirus delivery of genes (RPE65) to correct vision problems is becoming a reality in patients. And so far it looks good. I see this as a major step forward in the visionary method of gene therapy, with foresight. There are many advantages to this method of trans-retinal injection, since the eye is immune privileged, and easy to monitor by peering into it.

Gene therapy for cancer : China leading the way

Move over cold FX, the new hotness in questionable approved drugs comes from China. Sibiono Genetech 's drug, Gendicine is based on a replication-deficient adenovirus delivering wt P53. So far it has proven to be quite safe in over 3500 patients, with symptoms resembling the common cold. However we all remember what happened to Jesse Gelsinger. The company claims most patients who have a not too bad prognosis to start with, will show some kind of partial or complete response. Not surprisingly, a lot of foreigners are going to china to get the virus. Are we being unfair to the company only because it originates from China, or is this one of those "stem cell therapy" type shenanigans. This nature news piece weighs in on the issue. In any case China is becoming a major player in the area, and we'll have to get used to the idea of seeing drugs originating there.