HIV vaccine in the works, but hard to predict timeline: Mark Feinberg

The CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative said India lacks effective tools against infectious diseases like ebola, zika, AIDS

Research on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, has advanced tremendously since the disease was first reported in 1981. Anti-retroviral drugs have allowed people living with AIDS enjoy longer and healthier lives. However, the development of an HIV vaccine continues to be a formidable challenge for scientists. Mark Feinberg, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), who was in India recently, spoke to Ankur Paliwal about challenges in developing a vaccine, recent breakthroughs, and a rising anti-vaccine movement. Edited excerpts:

Why is it so challenging to make an AIDS vaccine?   

Most of the available vaccines against