New HIV vaccine trial in South Africa

5,400 South Africans will be tested on a new HIV vaccine in November, raising hopes of the world's first.

The vaccine, called ALVAC-HIV/gp120, is an improved version of the Thai-made RV144 vaccine that has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by 30%. According to City Press, the trial took place on 5,400 volunteers who tested negative for the virus at 15 sites in South Africa. Last year, ALVAC-HIV/gp120 was administered to 252 people and the results "exceeded expectations".

Photo: Upi.com

"We changed the amount of adjuvant to create a stronger immune response, and added a booster shot to prolong the protection period,"Linda-Gail Bekker, deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Prevention Centre in Cape Town, saidVolunteers will receive five injections over 12 months. The follow-up period to determine the vaccine's effectiveness is two years.

Experts evaluateALVAC-HIV/gp120 appears to be very promising, responding well to African subjects and causing no side effects."This is an important trial that could lead to the first licensed HIV vaccine in South Africa and the world," said Larry Corey, the trial's investigator.

According to VNE