Researchers make progress in HIV vaccine research

Scientists have made significant progress in finding a vaccine against HIV AIDS virus.

The active ingredient produced an immune response in humans and protected monkeys against infection, said the newspaper "The Lancet" on Saturday. The next step is to test the drug on 2,600 women in South Africa.

"The results are promising, but we must remain cautious," said medical professor Dan Barouch of Harvard University. The data did not prove that humans could be protected from HIV by the vaccine.

In a laboratory study, 72 monkeys were injected with the active substance and a virus similar to HIV. Two-thirds of the animals were thus completely protected from infection by the vaccine.

1.8 million people are infected each year

Barouch and his team also studied 393 healthy adults aged 18 to 50 years from East Africa, South Africa, Thailand and United States. Part of the group received the active substance, the remaining participants received only one placebo. Medical professor Barouch said the drug "triggered strong immune responses in humans."

The drug also caused side effects in a few participants – five complained of stomach upset and diarrhea, dizziness or back pain. As a result, vaccine research is now ready for the next phase: it will inject 2,600 women in South Africa to see if it can actually prevent AIDS. The results are expected in 2021/2022.

Finding an AIDS vaccine is extremely difficult because the avian influenza virus is highly adaptable. Globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 37 million people are infected with HIV or already living with AIDS. Each year, about 1.8 million people newly infected with the virus, which destroys the body's immune system. Approximately one million people die each year from consequences

Back to Home Page