African AIDS Vaccine Programme for a Coordinated and Collaborative Vaccine Development Effort on the Continent

Abstract

Nearly 30 years after the first cases of AIDS were reported [1] and HIV identified as the causative agent, Africa today bears a disproportionate burden of the disease. Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world's population but is home to more than 65% of the 33 million people in the world estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. The annual rate of new infections continues to rise, with an estimated 2.5 million people newly infected in 2007 [2]. Although newer initiatives aimed at providing universal access to antiretroviral therapy in Africa are ongoing, most Africans receive neither treatment nor adequate care [3]. Relatively few HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa (about 1 million) are currently receiving antiretroviral treatment [4], and many more new cases are occurring each year [2]. It is thus evident that treatment alone will not control the spread of the disease and that a vaccine is our best hope of halting this pandemic. In the history of infectious diseases, effective vaccines are critical public health tools to control and prevent diseases. Developing an effective HIV vaccine is proving to be one of the greatest challenges in biomedical research. The need for a simple, safe, effective, affordable, and equitably distributed preventive HIV vaccine to complement existing HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs is greater than ever. It is probable that vaccines will form part of future innovative interventions including microbicides and circumcision, used in conjunction with other more traditional prevention interventions. Summary Points The AIDS pandemic continues to be the most serious public health challenge facing the world today, and Africa bears an overwhelming proportion of infections, with unprecedented medical and socioeconomic consequences. The best hope to end the AIDS pandemic remains the development of an effective HIV vaccine, and its distribution to all communities. The African AIDS Vaccine Programme (AAVP), formed in 2000, is a network of African HIV vaccine stakeholders, led by Africans across the continent, with a vision of an African continent without AIDS. AAVP supports and represents the diverse African communities involved in HIV vaccine research and development (R&D), and is an important unified voice for African stakeholders. This paper describes what AAVP is, what it does, and its impact, successes, and challenges. Finally, we discuss where AAVP is heading to harmonize with the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the dynamic HIV vaccine research field.