Nigeria, seven other African countries to develop HIV vaccine
Several African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique, have initiated locally-driven HIV vaccine research and development efforts.
This announcement was made during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, centred on the theme, “HIV Vaccine, Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa Project.” The initiative aims to leverage African scientific expertise to develop an effective, African-led HIV vaccine under the ‘Bringing Innovation to Clinical and Laboratory Research to End HIV in Africa through New Vaccine Technology’ (BRILLIANT) Consortium. The project is spearheaded by Professor Glenda Gray, the CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council in Cape Town.
This move comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and 14 other pathogens as high-priority targets for new vaccine development. According to UNAIDS, approximately 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally in 2023, with 1.3 million new infections reported. Africa accounts for around 65% of the global HIV burden, with Nigeria contributing roughly 1.9 million cases, making it the fourth-largest country in terms of HIV prevalence.
While various prevention tools exist, experts agree that an effective HIV vaccine is essential to halting the transmission of the virus and ending the epidemic.
The BRILLIANT consortium has received over $45 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through a competitive grant, aimed at advancing the HIV-VISTA project.
Professor Alash’le Abimiku, the Executive Director of the International Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and the principal investigator for Nigeria, emphasised that the consortium’s primary goal is to assess HIV vaccine candidates developed across the African continent.
She noted, “The activities supported by the HIV-VISTA project will take place in Sub-Saharan Africa, which carries the highest HIV burden in the world. These new funds will be invested directly in Africa, with substantial in-kind contributions from various stakeholders. This collaboration promises impactful results, while ensuring that resources remain within the continent, rather than being diverted back to the U.S.”
Abimiku expressed optimism about the project’s potential, stating, “This partnership recognizes Africa’s capacity for groundbreaking scientific innovation. We are excited to join forces with colleagues from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique on this critical initiative.”
Dr. Temitope Ilori, the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), highlighted the importance of the HIV-VISTA study for the country. He remarked, “HIV continues to be a major challenge in Nigeria. Although we have made progress in reducing new infections and controlling the virus, an effective vaccine is still needed to strengthen our prevention efforts.”
Dr. Ilori added that Nigeria’s participation in the BRILLIANT consortium is essential for both national and global efforts to end AIDS. “The collaboration with the BRILLIANT consortium aligns with NACA’s commitment to public health and supports our goal of developing a vaccine that addresses the unique needs of the Nigerian population. We are confident in the scientific rigour of this initiative and support its alignment with Nigeria’s health priorities.”
Dr. Ezekiel James, Deputy Director of the Office of HIV/TB at USAID, also spoke on the significance of the study. He emphasised, “USAID is excited to collaborate with the Nigerian government and other partners in the HIV-VISTA project. We look forward to the results of this study, as they are crucial for achieving HIV epidemic control.”
Dr. Leo Zekeng, the UNAIDS Country Director, also underscored the importance of community engagement to raise awareness about HIV vaccine research and initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of HIV transmission.
