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. 2025 Apr 8;5(4):e0004364.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004364. eCollection 2025.

In danger: HIV vaccine research and development in Europe

Roger Tatoud  1 , Yves Lévy  2 , Roger Le Grand  3 , Jose Alcami  4 , Giorgio Barbareschi  5 , Christian Brander  6 , Andrea Cara  7 , Behazine Combadière  8 , François Dabis  9 , Sarah Fidler  10 , Tomáš Hanke  11 , Carolina Herrera  12 , Gunilla B Karlsson Hedestam  13 , Hester Kuipers  14 , Sheena McCormack  15 , Christiane Moog  16 , Giuseppe Pantaleo  17 , Laura Richert  9 , Rogier W Sanders  18 , Robin Shattock  19 , Hendrik Streeck  20 , Rodolphe Thiebaut  9 , Alexandra Trkola  21 , Klaus Üeberla  22 , Marit J Van Gills  23 , Ralf Wagner  24 , Winfried Weissenhorn  25 , Yazdan Yazdanpanah  26 , Gabriella Scarlatti  27 , Jean Daniel Lelièvre  28
Affiliations

In danger: HIV vaccine research and development in Europe

Roger Tatoud et al. PLOS Glob Public Health. .

Abstract

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Roger Tatoud declares that he is a consultant for the IAS. Christan Brander is a named inventor in patents WO/2013/110818 and US 61/412060. Behazine Combadière reports a relationship with Sanofi Pasteur Inc. that includes employment and equity or stocks. Tomáš Hanke is a named inventor on the HIVconsvX immunogen patent protected under EP14846993.5 and PCT/US14/58422 (WO2015048785). Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam reports being unpaid scientific advisory board member for HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). Rogier W. Sanders has patent licensed to International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, The Scripps Research Institute, Cornell University (US patent application 16/642,131 and EP2765138B1). He also reports funding from Janssen. Alexandra Trkola reports funding from the Gilead Foundation, Novartis Foundation and being on advisory boards for the German Centre for Infections Research (DZIF), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Scripps Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD) and Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). Marit J. Van Gills reports being board member of Netherlands Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment (NCHIV). Authors receive funding from a range of not-for-profit organisations, which had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. None of these competing interests in any way alter our adherence to PLOS Global Public Health policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. European Union Member States funding dedicated to HIV vaccine research and development (Source: G-Finder[
]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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