National Commission on AIDS

Met July 11 to discuss a draft of a report to be submitted to Congress Sept. 19 that will make recommendations on various AIDS issues. The panel discussed criteria for orphan drug status, suggesting that a drug grossing over $ 200 mil. per year should lose its orphan status. The committee later decided to withhold the specific numeric figure from the draft report while further considering the proposal. Public distribution of any future AIDS vaccine was also discussed; it was suggested that such a vaccine should be administered to the public without charge, "like a Salk vaccine." The commission will meet again Aug. 7 to discuss final changes to the draft.