AIDS Vaccine Nearly Set for Human Tests, U.S. Says

WASHINGTON — Scientists expect to announce in about a month that an AIDS vaccine is ready for testing in humans, a government official said today.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has polled its vaccine testing centers, all of which have expressed interest in trying out an AIDS vaccine in human volunteers, said spokeswoman Elaine Baldwin.

Several potential vaccines are under development in university and corporate laboratories. Baldwin said one, being developed commercially, is expected to be designated as the test candidate--but it will be up to the company to announce it.

This, she said, is expected to occur in about a month, depending on whether the Food and Drug Administration approves the firm’s testing application. If the FDA grants permission, testing will take place at the institute’s centers.

“We don’t have anything to announce yet. We’re pretty close,” she said.

An FDA spokesman said two organizations have announced their applications to the FDA for permission to test a vaccine. At least one other has sought permission, but its name has not been revealed.

The vaccine that does receive approval will be the first to be tested in humans in the United States.

A French researcher, Dr. Daniel Zagury, has tested his own compound in himself and some French and Zairean volunteers. The vaccine caused production of antibodies that neutralized the AIDS virus in test tubes, but whether it will protect against actual infection by the virus or against disease is uncertain.