Chiron to Test HIV Vaccine on People

Chiron Corp. said Thursday that it would start testing an experimental HIV vaccine on people.

The two-year study will involve about 168 uninfected individuals in the United States to assess whether the vaccine is safe and bolsters the immune system, the company said. Chiron is working with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, a research effort supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Scientists have been trying to develop an HIV vaccine since the 1980s. Companies that are working on experimental vaccines include drug makers Merck & Co. and Aventis and VaxGen Inc., a biotechnology company.

“This is an area where there hasn’t been a lot of progress made,” said Eric Schmidt, an analyst at SG Cowen Securities Corp. “It’s a major challenge for anyone. It’s unclear when, if ever, there will be an HIV vaccine on the market.”

Shares of Emeryville, Calif.-based Chiron gained 70 cents to $52.53 on Nasdaq.