HIV Vaccination Trail to Begin
HIV Vaccination Trail to Begin
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and South Africa have initiated the first phase of a trial for a preventive HIV vaccine candidate named VIR-1388.
This trial, called HVTN 142, aims to assess the safety of VIR-1388 and its ability to prompt an HIV-specific immune response in participants.
VIR-1388 is designed to instruct the immune system to produce T cells capable of recognizing HIV and triggering an immune response to prevent chronic infection.
It uses a weakened cytomegalovirus (CMV) vector to deliver the vaccine material without causing disease. The trial will include 95 HIV-negative participants divided into different vaccine dose groups and a placebo group.
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Participant safety will be ensured by enrolling those already living with asymptomatic CMV. Initial vaccine results are expected in late 2024, with ongoing monitoring of volunteers for up to three years after their first vaccine dose.
This trial marks a significant advancement in the quest for an effective HIV vaccine, a longstanding goal in HIV research.
