Subject: Chiron Plans to Begin Tests Among Humans Of Its AIDS Vaccine
Date: Published: 4/24/87 46 lines
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

   Chiron Plans to Begin
   Tests Among Humans
   Of Its AIDS Vaccine

   EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Chiron Corp. said it plans to apply
to the federal Food and Drug Administration to begin human
clinical trials this year on a genetically engineered vaccine
for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
   The biotechnology company said the trials will be
conducted through Biocine Co., a 50-50 joint venture with
Ciba-Geigy Ltd.  organized last October.
   Chiron declined to estimate when the trials could begin or
how soon an AIDS vaccine, assuming successful clinical
trials, might be available.  But the company is already at the
forefront of the race to produce genetically engineered
vaccines, having last fall received FDA approval of its
recombinant hepatitis-B vaccine, which is being produced and
marketed in an agreement with Merck & Co., Rahway, N. J. It
was the first vaccine produced by gene-splicing to gain FDA
marketing clearance.
   Biocine was formed to develop and put on the market a line
of genetically engineered vaccines against a variety of
infectious diseases including AIDS, oral, genital herpes,
malaria and several strains of hepatitis.  The venture is
located in Emeryville.
   Chiron is contributing its gene-splicing technology to the
venture while Summit, N. J. -based Ciba-Geigy is providing cash
and its expertise in developing general immune system
boosters.  The amount of Ciba-Geigy's cash infusion wasn't
disclosed.
   Genetically engineered vaccines prevent disease by
employing synthetic facsimiles of disease-causing viruses,
thus tricking the body's immune system into a protective
response.  The gene-spliced vaccines are considered safer than
those produced from live viruses, which sometimes cause the
disease they seek to prevent.

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