SAAVI news releases
6 February 2003

Eskom awards an additional R75 million to find an HIV vaccine

Eskom, the South African energy utility, is giving the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI), a presidential lead programme of the South African Medical Research Council (MRC), R75 million towards the development and testing of HIV vaccines in South Africa. This is a largest ever corporate contribution to HIV vaccine development anywhere in the world and takes Eskom’s contribution to in excess of R100 million.

Eskom has contributed more than R37 million to date to this vaccine development initiative. It has undertaken to continue to inject R15 million each year until 2007, with the potential of funding the project until its conclusion in 2010.

The South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative was established in 1999 with the national mandate to develop and test an affordable, effective and locally relevant preventative HIV vaccine for southern Africa. SAAVI was initiated by Eskom and the South African government and has grown into a global leader in the field. It now co-ordinates the activities of approximately 175 people who are involved in many diverse activities related to HIV vaccine development, including the scientific development of novel vaccines, clinical trials, sophisticated immunological assessments, the development of ethical protocols and community education activities.

“HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of our society and must be a major medium- to long-term strategic issue for industry and commerce. We have estimated that by 2005, the 550 to 600 new AIDS cases a year in our organisation will add R275 to R300 million to the cost of the business annually,” says Dr Steve Lennon, Managing Director, Eskom’s Resources and Strategy Division.

“This ongoing massive support from Eskom is a major boost to SAAVI, and is a sign of Eskom’s foresight and remarkable commitment to the health of both its own workforce and the population of South Africa. They are to be commended on this award to SAAVI, which constitutes the largest ever corporate contribution to HIV vaccine development anywhere in the world,” says Dr Tim Tucker, Director of SAAVI.

SAAVI also receives funding of R20 million a year from the national government. In addition, it receives multi-million dollar support from commercial groups, non-governmental organisations and international agencies such as the European Union and the USA National Institutes of Health (NIH). SAAVI collaborates closely with these networks and with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

For further details, contact
Dr Steve Lennon
Managing Director, Eskom’s Resources and Strategy Division
Tel: +27 (0) 11 808 6404
e-mail: steve.lennon@eskom.co.za

Dr Tim Tucker
Director SAAVI
Tel: +27 (0) 21 938 0262
e-mail: saavi@mrc.ac.za