Eight African countries, including Nigeria, have launched an innovative African-led HIV vaccine research and development project.
Other countries include South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique.
This was made known by the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Ilori said the initiative is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), led by the BRILLIANT consortium, within the framework of the “Acceleration of HIV Vaccine Innovation, Science and Technology in Africa (HIV-VISTA)”.
He said HIV remains a major challenge in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
He noted that despite the country's progress in reducing new infections and controlling the virus, the HIV epidemic persists, which is why new prevention tools are required.
Ilori said that while the agency has continued to provide current prevention measures, an effective vaccine is crucial to its efforts.
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“The HIV-VISTA project offers hope for a vaccine tailored to the needs of our population, and Nigeria's participation in this global initiative is essential,” he said.
“Our participation supports local and international efforts to end AIDS and brings us closer to a vaccine that could save countless lives in Africa and beyond.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday named HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and 14 other pathogens as top priorities for the development of new vaccines.
HIV epidemic
According to UNAIDS, there were an estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV worldwide in 2023, with approximately 1.3 million new infections.
Africa has about 25.9 million (65 percent) of the global burden and Nigeria contributes about 1.9 million, making it the fourth largest country with HIV burden globally.
However, to end the HIV epidemic, an effective HIV vaccine must be added to the prevention tools known to stop transmission.
Vaccine development
USAID awarded more than $45 million to the BRILLIANT consortium through a competitive process to implement a cooperative agreement under the HIV-VISTA project.
The Executive Director of the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN), Alash'le Abimiku, said the objective of the consortium is to evaluate HIV vaccine candidates from the continent.
Ms. Abimiku said the activities supported by the HIV-VISTA project will be implemented exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, which is the geographic area in the world with the highest HIV burden.
He noted that the partnership with the Nigerian government and other countries recognizes the potential of Africa's great innovation and science to solve global health challenges, especially those that disproportionately devastate the continent.
“We are very excited to partner with the Nigerian government and colleagues from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique in this effort.”
IHVN Executive Director Patrick Dakum said the institute has been privileged to provide effective treatment with anti-AIDS drugs and preventive tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and others to thousands of Nigerians in the framework of the PEPFAR program to narrow to two decades.
Dakum said partnering with Nigerian communities and other colleagues from the south and north in the effort to develop an effective vaccine is important to fulfill the vision and mandate of the Institute.
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Speaking, USAID HIV/TB Office Deputy Director Ezekiel James said the study provides an opportunity to collaborate with the Nigerian government and stakeholders.
James said USAID looks forward to the results of this project and the combined efforts to bring the HIV epidemic under control.