HIV vaccine trials show promise
The latest results from a small HIV vaccine trial taking place in South Africa have shown promise, revealing that people’s immune systems recognised the vaccine and responded well.
Whether the body’s immune system notices the vaccine and sees it as an “enemy” is one of the signs researchers look for to indicate whether or not a vaccine will work. This is significant, with scientists saying it could lead to a more effective vaccine to prevent HIV.
According to a press release on the trial: “The early results from [the] HVTN 100 trial show stronger immune responses than some of those recorded in the [previous] Thai vaccine trial, suggesting the potential for higher levels of protection from the modified vaccine regimen.”
The trial is funded by the US National Institutes of Health, and run by two South African female scientists, Dr Linda-Gail Bekker and Dr Fatima Laher.
This HVTN 100 vaccine was based on one used in a threeyear study in Thailand, and that offered 31% less chance of getting the virus.
However, the Thai vaccine has been tweaked for the Southern African strain of the virus and modified to last longer and work better.
There are currently two HIV vaccine trials taking place in South Africa. The other trial, using 5 400 participants, is called HVTN 702. It is a phase three trial, meaning that if it works, the researchers can apply for a licence for it to be used in hospitals and for it to be sold to pharmacists.
HIV Vaccine Trials Network communications director Aziel Gangerdine said a vaccine was needed due to the high number of HIV infections in SA.
“South Africa is part of a global effort responding to the HIV/Aids epidemic. It is a country with the largest antiretroviral response programme in the world. While this is commendable, there are still more than 1 000 new HIV infections in the country each day.
“These trials validate the commitment of the country and its people to find an effective response to curb this epidemic,” said Gangerdine.
Asked if the two vaccine trials taking place in South Africa conflicted with each other, Gangerdine said this was not the case.
In the HVTN 702 trial a new research site was added last week in the Eastern Cape with the researchers based at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and the Walter Sisulu University.