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Scientists hail the world’s first vaccine for Aids
Sophie Goodchild, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent24 Sep 2009
Scientists have developed the world's first vaccine that offers protection against Aids.
The jab, which cuts the risk of infection from the HIV virus by nearly a third, has been hailed as “a historic milestone” by experts.
Recent failures led many scientists to think such a vaccine might never be produced. But a US study— the largest ever carried out — used a combination of two jabs which primed the immune system to attack HIV and then to strengthen its response against the virus.
Aids experts said this “prime-boost” type of vaccine could have a huge impact in protecting millions of people against the virus.
Mitchell Warren, from the Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coal-ition, which has worked towards producing a vaccine, said: “Today marks a historic milestone. It will take time and resources to fully analyse and understand the data, but there is little doubt that this finding will energise and redirect the Aids vaccine field.”
The £100 million vaccine study was carried out by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in collaboration with the US Army.
The vaccine was tested on more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand because US Army scientists did pivotal research in the country when the Aids epidemic emerged there. Colonel Jerome Kim, who helped lead the study, said: “It's the first evidence that we could have a safe and effective preventive vaccine.”
Aids is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which slowly attacks the body's immune system. Many people are HIV positive but do not develop full-blown Aids for many years.
Scientists used the drugs Alvac and AidsVax in the study. Alvac employs a bird virus altered so it cannot cause human disease to ferry synthetic versions of three HIV genes into the body.
AidsVax contains a genetically engineered version of a protein on the surface of HIV. Combined, the drugs give the immune system a “double boost” so it is more effective in fighting the virus.
Researchers used HIV-negative Thai men and women aged 18 to 30 who were at an average risk of infection. Some received “dummy” shots, others the proper vaccine. All were given condoms, counselling and treatment for any sexually transmitted infections, and tested every six months for HIV.
Any who became infected were given free antiviral medicines.
New infections occurred in 51 out of the 8,197 people given the vaccine and 74 of the 8,198 given dummy shots.
This is the third large vaccine trial since 1983 when HIV was identified as the cause of Aids. One study was stopped in 2007 after scientists found an experimental vaccine did not stop infection.
Reader views (8)
I hope it does work...... but 51/8197 cases among the vaccinated is only just-and-so statistically different (chi-square test)to 74/8198 cases among the un-vaccinated.
- David, London, 24/09/2009 23:23
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What wonderful news! It really is wonderful!
However, I await the postcode lottery, as we often hear reagrding other life saving drugs.
- Jc, London, 24/09/2009 18:09
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AIDS is a complex problem with virus which has many ways to escape the immune system, A vaccine for the same is a good news, but we have to wait, who are going to be really protected and how long the vaccine can protect
- Dr.T.V.Rao Md, Kolar Karnartka India, 24/09/2009 17:27
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Only 30%? Not much of a vaccine.
The Army, etc, all have their own medical research branches - and scientists are just that regardless of where they work.
- Trunk, US, 24/09/2009 16:00
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Why on earth were the US Army involved in this? A little bit outside their remit isn't it? This is indeed a landmark though and I'm very optimistic that we could have full vaccine in the near future. Science proves it's worth again!
- Virgopunk, London, 24/09/2009 15:21
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Unfortunately it's only 30% effective. It'll have to be a lot better than that, for us to eradicate AIDS by a routine childhood innoculation. Also it's a fast-mutating virus. I fear that the virus will forever get ahead of the latest vaccine (like flu).
Even so, a good start.
- Nigel, London, 24/09/2009 14:32
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This is potentially earth-shattering news that could have an impact on the lives of tens of millions of people.
- Jim, London, 24/09/2009 14:04
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This is wonderful, encouraging news. The first step toward combatting a lot of misery and pain throughout the world. I congratulate the Institute and the Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coalition on this important breakthrough.
- Sidney Marks, London, England., 24/09/2009 13:10
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