"It is time to recognize and celebrate the fierce determination of Albert B. Sabin and Jonas Salk," states H.R. Shepherd, C.E.O. of the Albert B. Sabin Foundation. "Although they were rivals during their lives, in the spirit of unity and rapprochement and in the name of these science heros, we will be calling upon the President of the United States and all leaders of nations throughout the world to commit themselves to a new goal -- developing an effective AIDS vaccine by the year 2005 for our children and grandchildren."

While Albert B. Sabin and Jonas Salk may have been intense rivals during their lives, the Foundations that each left behind to continue fighting disease will join for a symbolic "rapprochement" dedicated to creating an AIDS vaccine by 2005. The ceremony will take place at the historic laboratories where Louis Pasteur conducted his world-renowned research in Marnes La Coquette, France, on Thursday, December 7, 1995 at noon.

As part of the ceremony, Dr. H.R. Shepherd, on behalf of the Albert B. Sabin Foundation, will award scrolls to Darrell Salk, in memory of Jonas Salk, M.D., who developed the inactivated polio vaccine that ended epidemic polio in industrialized countries; Heloisa Sabin in memory of Albert B. Sabin, M.D., who developed polio strains that have protected billions of people from the disease; Hilary Koprowski, M.D., whose pioneering studies resulted in the first oral polio administration to humans; and to Dr. Charles Merieux, who contributed to the promotion and utilization of the two polio vaccines, and who rendered possible their industrial production in large quantity for use in the worldwide eradication of the disease.

The polio vaccine is estimated to have saved over 500,000 lives worldwide. The Albert B. Sabin Foundation will be launching its new fund-raising campaign targeting concerned citizens to create a self- directed program, similar to The March of Dimes, "March of Dollars" campaign, to significantly suppplement government and private funding for HIV and other retro-virus vaccine research. This global initiative is being done in partnership with the cooperation of The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative organized by The Rockefeller Foundation.

The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Foundation is a non-profit organization located in New Canaan, Conn., formed to carry on Dr. Sabin's vision. The Foundation provides forums for scientific discussion and promotes advancements in vaccine technologies to help realize an ultimate goal of immunizing the world's population against viruses and infectious diseases. For more information about the Sabin-Salk Rapprochement ceremony, contact Christine Dzuna at 203-972-7907.

CONTACT: Judith S. Lederman of JSL Publicity & Marketing for the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Foundation, 914-591-5502/ 12:00 EST

Copyright (c) 1995/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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