Results on HIV study expected next year

BARELY a fortnight after the University of Zimbabwe-University of California San Francisco Collaborative Research Programme (UZ-UCSF), announced progress in its preparations to host the country’s first ever HIV vaccine clinical trial in Seke, the association has made another announcement that a related study has already been completed with results expected in December this year.

UZ-UCSF told The Sunday Mail Extra a couple of weeks ago that a HIV vaccine clinical trial is set to begin in the country in December under the code name HVTN 107.

In addition to that, the collaboration has made another announcement that it is expecting results of a related research called “A Study to Prevent Infection with a Ring for Extended Use (Aspire)” which has already been running since 2012.

While not a HIV vaccine clinical trial in the sense of HVTN 107, Aspire is a study that seeks to determine whether a woman’s use of a vaginal ring containing the anti-retroviral (ARV) drug (dapivirine) is a safe and effective method to prevent HIV infection.

According to UZ-UCSF the ring which is inserted into a woman’s vagina secretes anti-retroviral compounds which are believed to have the power to prevent HIV infection.

The study enrolled over 600 women in Seke South, Zengeza and Spilhaus, and has been touted as a success.

While the development is another positive step in the fight against HIV/Aids, UZ-UCSF researcher, Dr Nyaradzo Mugodi, said the results will not be conclusive as they are only a stage of drug formulation meaning the fruits, if there are any, will only be enjoyed much later.

Dr Mugodi said other studies of the same drug combination in the form of an injection and tablets are underway with results expected later in 2016.

“Let me take this opportunity to share with you the other study that we are conducting at Seke South, Zengeza and Spilhaus,” said Dr Mugodi at a HIV vaccine research dialogue in Harare last week.

“In this study we were looking at the possibility of preventing HIV infections with a ring known as the vaginal ring containing an anti-retroviral drug called dapivirine.

“Women came to the clinic every month and we gave them the dapivirine ring, they inserted it and now we have finished the study we started it in 2012.

“We are analysing the results and in December or early January we are going to have the results for you to see if it works to prevent HIV.”

Dr Mugodi said if Aspire is found to be working it will go to the final stage where its uptake will be evaluated.

“If it is found to be working we are not going to dish out the drug to women to protect themselves, we are still going on to proceed to what we call the open label phase to see if women are using it in their homes.

“In a nutshell our results are going to be available in December or January and we will be calling you to share the results with you.”

Dr Mugodi said most of the studies are targeting women at the moment as they are the most affected by HIV/Aids.

She went further to unpack vaccine research protocols dismissing claims that people are injected with the HIV virus during studies.

“Whenever we do research we are concerned about the wellbeing of people. So we don’t

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