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HIV / AIDS The 2007 WHO/UNAIDS reports AIDS as a leading cause of death in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, over 28 million people are supposed to be living with HIV. According to reports, more than 95% of HIV infections are in the developing countries. They also estimate that infection rates are lower in Asia and the Pacific. The disease is having a major impact on social and economic development. Poverty increases in many countries while households lose one or more breadwinners to AIDS. Both Public services and private companies lose many of their work force due to this epidemic. The United Nations General Assembly declared HIV/AIDS to be “a global emergency” in year 2001. It was agreed by member states to meet new targets for HIV prevention and care. UNAIDS and co-sponsors/partners have advised every state to implement a complete package of strategies for prevention and care of HIV/AIDS, including: • access to affordable condoms • prompt treatment of other sexually transmitted infections (which increase the risk of infection with HIV) • access to voluntary HIV testing and counseling • prevention of mother-to-child transmission • promotion of advice and support to reduce HIV infection among intravenous drug users • sexual health education in schools and the community • improved access to care, support and treatment, including sustainable access to affordable supplies of medicines and diagnostics. Above prevention strategies and strong commitment have helped to overturn the tide of HIV in some countries. It is scientifically believed a successful vaccine against HIV is also needed to complement the existing strategies. Approximately US$ 600 million a year is invested in HIV vaccine R&D, the majority from the US National Institutes of Health. The first Phase I trial of an HIV candidate vaccine was carried out in the United States in 1987. Today, 19 HIV candidate vaccines are at different levels of clinical testing in Europe, the United States and elsewhere Several projects such as WHO/UNAIDS, the European Commission, United States government agencies, the UK Medical Research Council, the French Agency for Research on AIDS and the IAVI aimed at exploring new vaccine concepts, focus on candidate vaccines based on HIV-1 found in developing countries.