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hw-nan subjects protections is the Phase III trial of AIDSVAX which is a candidate HIV

preventive vaccine tested for its efficacy in Bangkok, Thailand during March 1999 and
completed i n November 200-3 ) and may serve as a good case study.

Since the pandemic of AIDS, and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV
was found to be the etiologic agent, vaccine is considered to be a magic bullet to overcome

this deadly disease. This belief stems from the history of Smallpox, the only one disease
eradicated by human, the most important and effective weapon used is vaccine.

AIDSVAX is the first candidate HrV vaccine that has been tested for its efficacy
in human being. There were two projects of Phase III trial of AIDSVAX in humans in three
continents.

The first project was conducted in the US and Western Europe. The vaccine was

made from the strain B and B which were prevalent in the areas where vaccine was tested.

The second project was conducted in Thailand which is a developing country.

The vaccine was made from the strain B and E virus which were prevalent in Thailand.

The ethical concerns for the first project in the US and Western Europe was not
as problematic since it was conducted in the developed countries where the system for
human subjects protections has been well developed. But the second project conducted in

Thailand h as f aced a I ot o f ethical debates, as AD:)S was a new emerging deadly
disease. Although scientists around the world have put tremendous efforts to study and a lot
of knowledge has been discovered and established, there are still many unknowns. One of

a big ethical concern was the belief that people in developing countries will be used as
guinea pig for drug or vaccine testing. There are many ethical questions, among others are
as the following :
Ô Can vaccine cause HIV infection in the volunteers?
Ô Will subject who contract HIV later develop more severe clinical manifestations

than non vaccine recipients?
Ô Vaccine may cause seroconversion and result in positive blood test. Will this
lead to serious social problems, such as, stigmatization, discrimination, loss