Merck Begins Human Trials of HIV Vaccine

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co. has begun a small-scale human trial of a new experimental HIV vaccine, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The vaccine has been able to prevent laboratory monkeys exposed to an extremely virulent strain of the disease from contracting it, the newspaper quoted sources as saying.

The company would not discuss details of the laboratory trials, but said it began testing the vaccine in healthy, uninfected volunteers last week. At least a dozen companies are experimenting with possible HIV vaccines.

Merck officials said they plan to present their findings at a scientific forum in April. They already presented data to a closed-door session with the National Institutes of Health advisory committee on AIDS vaccine and another session with AIDS activists, the newspaper said.

David Baltimore, Nobel-winning scientist who heads the NIH committee, said, "After the presentation, members of the committee were excited.'' He said he could not give details.