
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 27, 1995                   TAG: 9501270062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BETHESDA, MD.                                LENGTH: Short

FDA WEIGHS TRIALS OF SALK AIDS VACCINE

AIDS victims pleaded with the government Thursday to allow the most in-depth trials yet of a therapeutic AIDS vaccine created by polio vaccine inventor Jonas Salk.

The vaccine, called Immunogen, is supposed to help bolster the immune system's response to HIV, the AIDS virus, and thus help HIV-infected people stay healthier longer.

But there are questions about whether the vaccine really does this. The Food and Drug Administration sought advice Thursday from a panel of outside experts before deciding whether to allow Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine to proceed in some 5,000 patients.

Patients are demanding that the studies go forward.

While other scientists are testing vaccines to both prevent HIV infection and to treat it, Salk's is the first therapeutic vaccine in development.

by CNB