The clinical trial of an Indian AIDS vaccine has been delayed because of the lack of safety data. The tests, being coordinated by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), were to be held in July. They have now been rescheduled for the end of 2004 or early 2005.

The phase-I trials were to be carried out at the Pune-based National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) under the Indian Council of Medical Research. IAVI will now have to provide more data on the studies conducted on animals to the Drug Controller General of India. Researchers from NARI have identified the genes used to make the vaccine. It is being provided by Therion Biologic Corporation, USA, which also carried out the toxicological studies.