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Scientists hope that an HIV vaccination could be in sight after tests on hundreds of adults and animals have shown "promising" results.
The vaccine could potentially protect people around the world from the threat of HIV.
New drug testing has prevented two-thirds of monkeys from contracting an HIV-like virus and stimulated an immune system immune response in 400 healthy adults, according to the Lancet study [19659004]. The horizon after "promising" drug test results ” class=”img-align-none size-full wp-image-7692196″ data-rewritten=”true”/>
More tests will be needed to determine if the immune response can prevent HIV infection.
Approximately 37 million people worldwide are living with HIV or AIDS, and an estimated 1.8 million new cases each year.
Six boys trapped in flooded caves in Thailand were rescued
for HIV, a cure or vaccine against the virus has never been found.
Prep, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is effective in preventing HIV infection, but unlike the vaccine, it must be taken regularly.
It is hoped that the new vaccine will provide much better protection against the almost unlimited number of HIV strains found in the world.
Only four HIV vaccines have ever been tested on humans According to the scientist in charge of the study, Dan Barouch, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, added, "The challenges in the development of An HIV vaccine is unprecedented, and the ability to induce specific immune responses to HIV does not necessarily indicate that a vaccine will protect humans from HIV infection. "
What was the test?
Scientists have tested various combinations of vaccine mosaic che z people aged 18 to 50 who did not have HIV and were in good health.
Participants from the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, and Thailand, received four vaccinations in 48 weeks.
All vaccine combinations produced an anti-HIV immune response and were shown to be safe.
Scientists also conducted a parallel study where they gave the vaccine to monkeys. to protect them against the simian human immunodeficiency virus – a virus similar to HIV that infects monkeys.
The mosaic vaccine combination that has shown the most promise in humans has protected 67% of 72 monkeys.
The next step?
Scientists will now perform an essay called "Imbokodo", the Zulu word for rock, about 2,600 women in southern Africa.
Women are at risk of contracting HIV and scientists hope vaccine tests will produce results around 2021.
Dr. Michael Brady, Medical Director of Terrence Higgins Trust, said, "It is still very early for this HIV vaccine, but the signs are promising and very few trials are progressing to test in humans who are at risk for HIV. "
