Bill Gates: An HIV Vaccine in 10 Years, But a Cure is "Unrealistic"

Multi-billionaire Bill Gates spoke from the sidelines of an HIV awareness concert he supports about his hope for an HIV vaccine in the next decade, according to Business Insider.

"Probably the top priority is a vaccine," he said. "If we had a vaccine that can protect people, we can stop the epidemic."

His charity, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, spends about $400 million a year just on HIV drug research, but, Gates said, developing a vaccine has taken longer than expected. While there are many promising ideas out there, none so far have led to a vaccine. 

"A vaccine, that's a big area of funding for our foundation. But even in the best case that's five years away, and perhaps as long as 10," he told the audience during a question-and-answer session.While the search for an HIV cure seems "unrealistic," he says.

Even though organizataions like amfAR have committed millions to finding a vaccine or cure for HIV, the quest has been troublesome because the virus continues to mutate. At the moment though, Gates told the audience, we must be focused and get more efficient. 

Until there's a vaccine,  he says, "there will continue to be substantial number of people infected."

Gates made similar comments earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he said he believed a vaccine and better treatment would be available by 2030.