The Hunt for an AIDS Vaccine

Horizon tells the microbiological detective story in which some of the best brains in science have been pitted against the most extraordinary bug the world has ever seen. In 1984 it was discovered that HIV was the cause of AIDS. Straight away, there were confident predictions that there would be a vaccine ready for testing in just two years. Back then, just 1,292 deaths from AIDS had been reported. Now the figure is 25 million dead. By 2010 it is predicted there will be 85 million infections and 70 million deaths. And after 20 years there is still no sign of a vaccine. Despite work of dazzling complexity, the ambition of so many brilliant scientists has been constantly thwarted. Just as a vaccine seems to be working, the AIDS virus alters itself, and ten to fifteen years of work, and millions of pounds, go down the drain. These bitter disappointments are only compounded by the desperate human urgency of the work. This is a story where the clock doesn't stop ticking.

Other episodes for this season

The Mystery Of Easter Island
Episode 1 - The Mystery Of Easter Isl...
Living Nightmare
Episode 2 - Living Nightmare
Averting Armageddon
Episode 3 - Averting Armageddon
Dirty Bomb
Episode 4 - Dirty Bomb
Sexual Chemistry (Update)
Episode 5 - Sexual Chemistry (Update)
The Day We Learned To Think
Episode 6 - The Day We Learned To Thi...
Trial and Error
Episode 7 - Trial and Error
Earthquake Storms
Episode 8 - Earthquake Storms
Life On Mars (Update)
Episode 9 - Life On Mars (Update)
The Secret Life Of Caves
Episode 10 - The Secret Life Of Caves
God On The Brain
Episode 11 - God On The Brain
Flight 587
Episode 12 - Flight 587
SARS: The True Story
Episode 13 - SARS: The True Story
The Big Chill
Episode 14 - The Big Chill
The Bible Code
Episode 15 - The Bible Code
Last Flight of the Columbia
Episode 16 - Last Flight of the Columb...
The Hunt for an AIDS Vaccine
Episode 17 - The Hunt for an AIDS Vaccine
Percy Pilcher's Flying Machine
Episode 18 - Percy Pilcher's Flying Ma...
Time Trip
Episode 19 - Time Trip