The test on the effectiveness of a new HIV vaccine was unsuccessful. So that only HIV Aids treatments are available and no vaccine yet.
The news was communicated by the “National institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases”.
The study, called “Uhambo” (acronym HVTN 702) was carried out on over 5000 people from South Africa, but the vaccination was however ineffective. No side effects or safety problems were found but, given the ineffectiveness, the testing of the medicine was blocked and consequently also the clinical study on the latter. To date, there is still no vaccine against HIV and there have been numerous unsuccessful attempts. Anyway studies continue and researchers believe they are well advanced in the finding of an effective drug.
The study started in 2016 and involved around 5000 people between the ages of 18 and 35, sexually active but negative on HIV tests. Participants were divided into two groups, one of which received the experimental vaccine, while the other was given a placebo drug. The doses were 6, supplied in a year and a half. After this period, the results and possible protective effects of the vaccine were analyzed. To obtain them, the number of new infections contracted during the research period was compared both in the group treated with the medicine and in the control group.
The results show 129 cases among the vaccinated and 123 in the other group. The figures therefore show no difference between who took the drug and who didn’t. For this reason, the researchers considered the vaccine ineffective and therefore immediately stopped the test.
This result, of course, does not stop research into the development of the HIV vaccine. In fact, Glenda Gray, one of the scientists participating in the study, said that challenge will continue to fight and prevent HIV-related diseases, both with vaccines and preventive strategies.
Today, there are about 38 M of HIV positives all over the world, of which almost 8 M in South Africa.
The elaboration of a vaccine is a key step to end the pandemic related to this virus.