Press Release

Declining Funding and Shrinking Donor Base Imperils Continued Success of HIV Prevention Research; European Countries Called to Renew Support

Contacts

AVAC: Kay Marshall, kay@avac.org, +1-347-249-6375
IAVI: Rose Catlos, rcatlos@iavi.org, +1-212-847-1049

New York and Paris —

A new report released today ahead of the 9th IAS Conference on HIV Science documents 2016 funding and highlights a continuing trend of flat or declining funding and its potential impact on further innovation in HIV prevention research and development (R&D).

The Resource Tracking for HIV Prevention R&D Working Group’s (RTWG) 13th annual report, HIV Prevention Research & Development Investments, 2016: Investment priorities to fund innovation in a challenging global health landscape, documents the lowest annual investment in HIV prevention R&D in more than a decade. In 2016, funding for HIV prevention R&D decreased by three percent (US$35 million) from the previous year, falling to US$1.17 billion.

At a time when the field is moving towards a new slate of efficacy trials across the prevention pipeline and follow-on research for successful antiretroviral-based prevention options is underway or planned this trend is worrisome, particularly in light of uncertainties around the sustainability of public sector support from the US and other funders. Even small declines in funding can delay or sideline promising new HIV prevention options that are needed to end the HIV epidemic.

The US continued to be the major funder of HIV prevention research. In fact, 88 cents of every dollar spent on HIV prevention R&D in 2016, came from just two donors: the US public sector and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In contrast, European public sector funding fell by US$10 million from 2015, and at US$59 million, accounted for just six percent of all public sector investment. This is the lowest European funding recorded in the last decade and marks a 52 percent decrease from the peak funding (US$124 million) in 2009. In addition, the number of philanthropic donors fell sharply from a total of 27 in 2015 to just 12 in 2016.

The RTWG renewed a call for a greater range of donors to increase the stability of R&D financing and cushion potential impact if any of the major funders were to reduce their investments. Noting increases in public sector funding from the Netherlands and Sweden, the RTWG called on other European countries to increase investment in critical HIV prevention tools to help end the epidemic.

The past year has seen one new HIV vaccine efficacy trial begin and another planned to begin later in 2017; a novel proof-of-concept trial of antibody-mediated prevention underway; a monthly vaginal ring with the antiretroviral (ARV) drug dapivirine proven effective and under review by the European Medicines Agency; a multipurpose technology combining dapivirine and a contraceptive has launched early-stage trials; a long-acting ARV-based injectable PrEP formulation is beginning efficacy trials; and, finally, daily oral PrEP delivery programs are being scaled up in multiple countries. And behind these more advanced R&D activities come many other different HIV prevention modalities poised to prove themselves in early-stage research.
“The latest figures from UNAIDS show us that there has been progress toward meeting the 90 90 90 treatment goals, but there has been less progress – and less reporting – on meeting the prevention goals that are critical to epidemic control,” said Mitchell Warren, AVAC executive director. “We need to not only vastly accelerate roll out of HIV treatment and existing prevention options, we need continued and sustained investment to keep HIV prevention research on track to provide the new tools that will move the world closer to ending AIDS.”

The RTWG has tracked more than US$17 billion in investment towards biomedical HIV prevention since 2000 and warned that the greatest impact of this investment could be lost without continued and sustained support to move promising prevention options from laboratories and clinics into the lives of those who most need them.

“We are at an incredibly exciting time in the field of HIV prevention research and development with more life saving innovations, science and technology coming to the forefront than ever before,” said Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We cannot allow a lack of funding to set back progress. Invest now and we can end AIDS by 2030.”

The report documents some critical increases in funding, including the highest annual investment in preventive HIV vaccines since 2007, which includes the highest investment by the US public sector in preventive vaccine research since 2000, in part because of the start of the first vaccine efficacy trial in almost a decade. Yet European public sector investment in vaccine research was the lowest since 2001. The increase in support for vaccine research comes at a critical time in vaccine R&D and is an example of funders responding to the need for investment to keep promising research moving forward. The RTWG noted this level of investment should be occurring across the field to support the broadest possible pipeline of promising new HIV prevention options.
“A true end to AIDS will only be possible if we can develop and deploy an effective HIV vaccine and other innovative biomedical products for HIV prevention” said Mark Feinberg, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). “With growing risk of increasing rates of HIV infection due to demographic trends and incomplete reach of HIV treatment programs, advances being made in HIV R&D needs support and acceleration. Progress can only happen with sustained public and private sector investment in HIV prevention R&D.”

The HIV field comes together in Paris next week at IAS2017 at a time when there is both much to be optimistic about in HIV science and in the accumulated knowledge of what and how we need to deliver treatment, prevention and care to the people who need it most. Yet, as the title of the report notes, this optimism faces a volatile global health landscape. Funding constraints, policy changes, shifting donor priorities and shifting demographics will all play a role in the world’s ability to respond to the continued challenges that HIV presents.

“After years of prudent and increasingly high-impact investment in HIV prevention and treatment, we have seen amazing dividends in lives saved, families kept together, communities revitalized and economies boosted,” added Warren. “We cannot lose that momentum. We have the innovative science. Now we need an expanded cadre of innovative funders who will work with us to ensure a continued return on investment in more lives saved and more infections averted.”

The report and infographics on prevention research investment are online at www.hivresourcetracking.org and on social media with #HIVPxinvestment.

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Since 2000, the Resource Tracking for HIV Prevention R&D Working Group (formerly the HIV Vaccines & Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group) has employed a comprehensive methodology to track trends in research and development (R&D) investments and expenditures for biomedical HIV prevention options. AVAC leads the secretariat of the Working Group, that also includes the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This year’s report is additionally made possible by the support of several donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the American people through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of AVAC and the Working Group and do not necessarily reflect the views of PEPFAR, USAID or the United States Government.

Advocacy in Uncertain Times: A call to action

AVAC’s report for HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on the state of the HIV vaccine research and development field, including key priorities for advancing research and sustaining support.

Financing the Search: Then and now

Funding for vaccines research in 1997 and 2016, segmented by government and other sector spending.

Number of Vaccines Trials: Then and now

A snapshot of the number of vaccine trials conducted globally between 1997 and 2017.

Where Does Oral PrEP Fit in to Vaccine and AMP Trials?

A global map showing current efficacy trial countries and their status of PrEP implementation.

Vaccine Approaches in Early-Phase Development

An outline of various approaches to vaccine development that are in earlier phase research, e.g., phase I or II trials; development pathways for these candidates are uncertain at this time.

Vaccines and Antibodies on Efficacy Pathways

A timeline of current efficacy programs for vaccines and antibodies, highlighting the P5 program testing pox-protein candidates, the Janssen program testing mosaic-based candidates, and the AMP studies testing the antibody VRC01.

Advocacy in Uncertain Times: A call to action

It’s almost here! HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) is upon us. This Thursday will mark the day’s 20th anniversary and cap off AVAC’s month-long “vaccine immersion”. On Thursday, we will host the final webinar in our series, featuring Julie Ake of the US Military HIV Research Program. (Update: link to the recording.)

HVAD comes amidst a week when advocates for health and human rights are aghast at a new US guideline on expansion of the Global Gag Rule—a policy that is anti-woman and anti-public health, and that will now impact many more recipients of US funding. As AVAC states in a blog, we are committed to the rights and health of girls and women worldwide, and stand strong with our allies in this fight.

Our HVAD resources are designed for allies everywhere to use in the fight for rights-based, science-forward, sustainable solutions to the epidemic. They include our updated HVAD toolkit, which features our HVAD call to action, Advocacy in Uncertain Times, a new publication on HIV vaccine advocacy and priorities for the field—required reading for HIV prevention and vaccine advocates alike!

HVAD 2017 Toolkit

  • Advocacy in Uncertain Times: A call to action—AVAC’s report for HVAD on the state of the HIV vaccine research and development field, including key priorities for advancing research and sustaining support. (Click here to download all graphics from this report.)
  • HIV Vaccines: Key Messages for HVAD 2017—Bullet points on today’s pressing issues; great for informed audiences who need compelling outreach messages.
  • HIV Vaccines: An Introductory Fact Sheet—Part of AVAC’s basic fact sheet series, a two-pager of basic information and research updates; great for distribution to lay audiences.
  • HIV Vaccines: The Basics—Introductory PowerPoint slide set with basic concepts, an overview of research status and recent developments; great for use by research representatives and vaccine stakeholders for presenting information to wider audiences.
  • Vaccine Science for Busy Advocates: bNAbs—a one-pager reviewing highlights, next steps and key terms; great for lay audiences who are looking to understand complex technical issues.

Missed any of the previous webinars in the series? Visit www.avac.org/hvad for the slides and recordings.

And HVAD is active on social media this year! Follow the hashtags #HIVVaccineAware and #HVAD2017 on Twitter and Facebook for more messages and resources this HVAD.

At AVAC, we thank you for your work and partnership today and every day. We’re committed to ending the AIDS epidemic, and that means finding an HIV vaccine. We couldn’t do it without you.

AVAC’s Month-Long Vaccine Immersion Continues: Webinar series, cheat sheets and more! 

[UPDATE:] Recordings of webinars already held are now available below.

Join us in our month-long “deep dive” into the dynamic field of HIV vaccine research with the next installment in our HIV Vaccine Awareness Day webinar series coming up this Thursday—a review of the NIH’s Vaccine Research Center with Barney Graham. And read on for links to key resources, including quick references and a recording of our first webinar.

Webinar series lineup:

  • Friday, April 28: Ad26 Mosaic Program—Janssen’s Maria Pau discusses preparations for the next efficacy trial.
    YouTube / Audio / Slides
  • Thursday, May 4: The History—and Future—of the NIH’s Vaccine Research Center with Barney Graham.
    YouTube / Audio / Slides
  • Monday, May 8: Building on (and Building!) Success—Status of HVTN 702 with Fatima Laher.
    YouTube / Audio / Slides
  • Thursday, May 11: “Plan B”-NAb? An Overview of Antibody Research with Lynn Morris.
    YouTube / Audio / Slides
  • Thursday, May 18: An Overview of Vaccine Development from Julie Ake of MHRP.
    YouTube / Audio / Slides

Last Friday, the series launched with an overview from Janssen’s Maria Pau on the Ad26/Mosaic vaccine program—notable both for its science and for active leadership from industry. Two of the upcoming webinars will fill advocates in on bNAb research. Broadly neutralizing antibodies—bNAbs—are anti-HIV proteins now being tested for efficacy as HIV prevention through direct “passive” infusions. The upcoming discussions will help answer burning questions for HVAD 2017:

  • Which bNAb candidates should we be watching in the coming years?
  • What do bNAbs mean for HIV vaccine research? Are these current trials, testing direct infusion of bNAbs, a pathway to a new product or a way to advance the HIV vaccine field—or both?
  • What will current large-scale efficacy trials of vaccines and bNAbs tell us?

We know not everyone hears bNAb and immediately understands the term. This year, AVAC has updated our series, Vaccine Science for Busy Advocates, to provide quick, clear explanations, with a focus on topics corresponding to our webinars. Click here to access Busy Advocates: bNAbs. Download it, review the terms and be ready with your questions on May 4 and May 11.

There’s a lot to know. But the research is promising, and we need steady hands on deck to ask smart questions and sustain support. Continue with us over the next several weeks on the countdown to HVAD to play your part.

Funding Opportunity: Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01)

Purposes: To support high risk/high impact, early discovery research on HIV vaccine approaches; a Go/No-Go approach to funding high risk research significantly different from most R01 projects; and encourage involvement of investigators new to the HIV vaccine field to build interdisciplinary approaches. For more information, click here.