America's pharmaceutical companies are intensifying efforts to research and develop more effective ways to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. A new survey released recently by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) found 79 new medicines and vaccines are now in development.

"More and more patients with HIV/AIDS are now seeing the benefits of long years of intense pharmaceutical research and development," said Alan F. Holmer, PhRMA president and CEO. "In addition to the 82 medicines already approved, the medicines now in the pipeline demonstrate the commitment of America's research pharmaceutical companies to combat this terrible global scourge. We'll continue until we've conquered the disease," he asserts.

The medicines in development, all of which are either in human clinical trials or are awaiting approval by the FDA, include 16 vaccines. Vaccine research is considered crucial to control the AIDS pandemic.

One vaccine in development is designed to induce different types of immune response, enhancing the overall immune response. The first dose primes the body to induce cellular immunity, while the booster dose induces neutralizing antibodies.

An antisense gene therapy that uses two novel techniques to boost immune responsiveness against HIV is also in the process of development.

An antifungal that is the first in a new class of medicines known as echinocandins. Deadly fungal infections often attack the weakening immune systems of AIDS patients. The drug targets the wall of invasive fungal cells.

"Drug research is risky and often at the cutting edge of science. It is unlikely that all of the 79 medicines now in development will be approved for patients. However, the research on these medicines advances both our knowledge of HIV/AIDS and search for a cure," continued Holmer.

The first AIDS medicine was developed in 1987, just four years after the HIV virus was identified. Since the early 1990s, medicines have helped to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV by two-thirds. And since the mid-1990s, when the first protease inhibitors were launched and combination drug therapy was introduced, the US death rate from AIDS has dropped about 70 per cent. New treatments have also reduced hospitalization and the total cost of care.

Despite the progress, AIDS remains a devastating and growing worldwide health problem, generally hitting hardest in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and in China, Russia, and India. An estimated five million new HIV infections occurred worldwide during 2002 - about 14,000 each day, the study says.

From 1998 to 2003, pharmaceutical companies contributed $4.1 billion to improve health care in the developing world. Projects include building HIV/AIDS clinics, AIDS education and prevention programmes, and programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV as well as donations of medicines for AIDS and related diseases. Companies are also providing AIDS drugs at significantly reduced prices in 18 countries. In addition to pharmaceutical company contributions, a massive international effort is needed to cope with the pandemic.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the US's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.