In danger: HIV vaccine research and development in Europe
Highly effective antiretroviral-based HIV prevention plays an important role in ending the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, the sustainable control of the epidemic is hampered by unequal access to prevention options, including HIV testing, alongside with drug resistance and ongoing barriers to accessing sustainable HIV treatment. Therefore, an HIV vaccine, combined with effective prevention and treatment, remains an absolute necessity to control the epidemic. Yet, the recent discontinuation of four major vaccine efficacy studies is raising concerns about the future of HIV vaccine research and development globally, and particularly in the European region where funding for vaccine research and development has shrinked. This viewpoint emphasises that supporting HIV vaccine research and development at the European level remains crucial: it is not only necessary to control the epidemic, but it promotes innovation, strengthens health security, epidemic preparedness, and health sovereignty while contributing to the economies of European nations.
Authors
- Roger Tatoud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3999-8264)
- Carolina Herrera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3701-752X)
- G Barbareschi
- Yazdan Yazdanpanah
- Giuseppe Pantaleo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3651-2721)
- Tomáš Hanke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6076-9546)
- Marit J. van Gils (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3422-8161)
- Laura Richert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7682-2225)
- Ralf Wagner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2029-3846)
- Rodolphe Thiébaut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5235-3962)
- Béhazine Combadière (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2353-4406)
- Winfríed Weissenhorn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5532-4959)
- Gabriella Scarlatti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2316-2689)
- Roger Le Grand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4928-4484)
- François Dabis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1614-8857)
- Jean‐Daniel Lelièvre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8182-3628)
- Sheena McCormack (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7829-1325)
- Andrea Cara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4967-1895)
- José Alcamı́ (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0023-7377)
- Alexandra Trkola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1013-876X)
- Klaus M Ueberla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-3835)
- Hester Kuipers
- Sarah Fidler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1676-7583)
- Christiane Moog (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0916-156X)
- Gunilla B. Karlsson Hedestam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7255-9047)
- Robin J. Shattock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4936-1718)
- Rogier W. Sanders (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-8573)
- Hendrik Streeck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0335-6390)
- Christian Brander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0548-5778)
- Yves Lévy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-6256)
Institutions
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Sanofi (France) (FR)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- IrsiCaixa (ES)
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL (GB)
- CEA Paris-Saclay - Etablissement de Fontenay-aux-roses (FR)
- Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hépatites Virales (FR)
- Institut de Recherche Vaccinale (FR)
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (BE)
- Atria (NL)
- Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies (FR)
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor (FR)
- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (IT)
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene (DE)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (FR)
- Jenner Institute (GB)
- Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica (ES)
- Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
- Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (ES)
- University College London (GB)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Université de Strasbourg (FR)
- Old Dominion University (US)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLOS Global Public Health
- Published
- 2025-04-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004364
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.04
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- CRDF Global
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- International AIDS Society
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases