Progress in the research and development of medicines and vaccines for HIV/AIDs and related diseases

Based on the current status of global HIV prevalence and various countermeasures adopted in prevention and treatment of AIDS by international organizations and governments, especially by Chinese government, the status quo of development of new medicines and vaccines for HIV/AIDs and related diseases were described in this article. In 2007, 92 new medicines and vaccines have been reviewed to treat or prevent these diseases internationally, especially the new antivirals, immunomodulators and vaccines to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS. Compared with 77 new medicines and vaccines in 2006, the number of the medicines and vaccines developed has increased by 19.48% in 2007. Although the common types of antivirals are still developed, the international research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are strenthening their efforts to develop new classes of antiretrovirals, such as integrase inhibitors, maturation inhibitors, interleukins and interferons as well as preventive and therapeutic vaccines, immunomodulators and gene therapy.