Executive Summary : "Bristol-Myers Science and Technology Group VP-Administration Bradley Simmons appointed to new position of president of the Bristol-Myers/Genetic Systems/Syntex cooperative cancer research partnership. [Oncogen Company] will continue under the scientific direction of [Dr. George Joseph Todaro (born 1937)] . . . . "

An experimental vaccine against the AIDS virus produces two important kinds of immune reaction in animals, according to a new research report.

The study, reported in the Sept. 25 issue of Nature by a research team in Seattle, involved the use of vaccinia viruses that were genetically altered to contain key proteins of the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome. In effect, the AIDS proteins disguise the vaccinia virus so that the body thinks it has been invaded by AIDS virus.

In the experiments, the animals showed evidence of developing the two major types of immunity that are crucial to the body's defense against virus invasion: protective antibodies and cellular immunity. Cell-mediated immunity is dependent on the action of defensive white blood cells, particularly T cells and their products.

The evidence that both were produced in the experiments indicates that the research is advancing toward the goal of developing a vaccine to protect against AIDS, experts said. But there would still be a need for proof that such an experimental vaccine actually protected against the virus under natural circumstances of infection. Because of the complexity of AIDS as a disease, this point cannot be taken for granted. A Key Step in Research

''We believe this is the first report demonstrating T-cell mediated immunity to the virus that causes AIDS,'' said the new report, by scientists of two biotechnology companies in Seattle, [Oncogen Company] and [Genetic Systems Corporation], and the University of Washington. The companies are subsidiaries of the Bristol-Myers Company. The authors of the report are Joyce M. Zarling, William Morton, Patricia A. Moran, Jan McClure, Steven G. Kosowski and [Dr. Shiu-Lok Hu (born 1949)].  

Earlier this year, the scientists reported antibody production against the AIDS virus in animals given the experimental vaccine, but the other type of response was not demonstrated. Other research teams have also reported antibody production in animals that were immunized either with genetically engineered vaccinia viruses, pure substances derived from the AIDS virus or synthetic chemicals that mimic part of the virus.

The most familiar response produced by immunization against a virus is the production of protective antibodies that help eliminate the virus from the body. But cell-mediated immunity, governed by immune defense cells, particularly the T-cells and their products, is also crucial to the body's defense. Some T-cells contribute to antibody production, but others kill cells in the body that are already infected with a virus. This selective cell-killing helps prevent the infection from spreading.

In the new report, macaque monkeys were given the genetically engineered experimental vaccine. Later, samples of their blood were exposed to purified AIDS virus.

The animals developed antibodies against the virus and also produced activated T cells that proliferated and produced an important defensive substance, interleukin-2. Eight monkeys that were given booster doses of the vaccine produced high levels of antibodies, activated T cells and interleukin 2.

In a a late addition to their paper, the scientists said chimpanzees were also tested with the remodeled vaccinia virus and that the animals produced both the helper T cells that aid in antibody production and cytotoxic T cells that can actually kill infected cells.

Findings Termed Impressive

Dr. Bernard Moss of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a world leader in research in modifying vaccinia virus for vaccine purposes, said he considered the new experimental results ''important and impressive.'' His group has also modified the vaccinia virus to make it evoke antibody production against the AIDS virus.

[Dr. George Joseph Todaro (born 1937)], scientific director of [Oncogen Company], noted that AIDS patients often had antibodies against the AIDS virus, but were not protected against the fatal infection. He speculated that they might lack the cellular immune reaction that has been produced in the experiments with monkeys and chimpanzees.

Vaccinia virus is the active substance of smallpox vaccine, the most successful vaccine ever developed. It was used in a massive global public health effort that eradicated smallpox from the world.

In recent years, several scientific teams including Dr. Moss's at the National Institutes of Health and the group on the West Coast, have sought to modify the vaccinia virus for use against other infections. But the vaccinia virus is potentially hazardous to some people. For that reason, some experts doubt that it will be brought into use again for anything but a widespread deadly disease.

AIDS fits this criterion, but how soon a vaccinia-based vaccine against AIDS might be tested in humans is unclear. Any AIDS vaccine project would first have to solve many serious scientific, social and logistical problems.

Earlier this year, Dr. Todaro's group said they hoped to ask the Food and Drug Administration for approval by the end of this year for initial tests of an experimental vaccine in humans. Yesterday he said they still hoped to do so.