Lausanne, Switzerland August 17, 2004 — ?Due to an alarming increase in the number of HIV infections, which today affect some 30% of the active population in some countries, there is an urgent need for a preventative vaccine to end the HIV pandemic both in the developing and in the developed world,? commented Prof. Giuseppe Pantaleo, Conference Chair. ?Developing a vaccine is a scientific challenge for a humanitarian cause. We hope that strong political and financial commitment will be a result of this conference.?

The programme will take place over three days, with plenary sessions, symposia and oral abstract sessions. The conference will begin on Monday August 30th at 9:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony, featuring leading scientists Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr Rolf Zinkernagel, the Swiss Minister of Health Mr. Pascal

Couchepin, and the local Lausanne and Vaud authorities Mr Daniel Br?laz and Mr. Charles-Louis Rochat.

The AIDS vaccine ?04 conference will be attended by about 800 scientists and features the most significant advances in the field. The Conference is co-organised by the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and EuroVacc, a foundation registered in Switzerland whose mission is to develop a vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other agents of human infectious diseases. The Foundation therefore promotes world-wide accessibility to the vaccines; develops appropriate infrastructure for carrying out vaccine clinical trials; develop technical and clinical platforms; promotes educational vaccine programmes ; and generates financial resources to support fundamental and clinical research.

For further information please contact:
Dani?le Letor?   

AIDSVaccine ?04 press office
T: +41 22 779 0620
E-mail: info@genevensis.com