What Merck's "virus VP" does and doesn't know

Dr. Keith Gottesdiener, Merck's vice president for vaccine and infectious disease clinical research is currently doing the Press rounds.

Why?

Well, he's answering questions about their failed HIV vaccine.

So?

Here's what he said to Newsweek:

Q.The volunteers did not get HIV from the vaccine, right?

A. Right. This vaccine cannot transmit HIV. It does not contain the virus. The adenovirus has only three genes from HIV, not the whole HIV genome.

And here's what he said to the WSJ

"There seem to be more cases [of HIV infection] in those who were actually vaccinated,".

"We don't really know the reasons for this."

Phew! Glad that's all cleared up then!