HIV vaccine aces first human trials

First human tests have been declared as a success with patients' antibodies being boosted after treatment

04 September 2013 | By Joe Morgan

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/hiv-vaccine-aces-first-human-trials040913

An HIV prevention vaccine has aced its first clinical trials.

A team of Canadian researchers, from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, have said their first tests have been a complete success.

Not only has the vaccine worked, it has boosted the production of antibodies in patients it was tested on.

SAV001, one of only a handful of HIV vaccines in the world, is based on a genetically-modified ‘dead’ version of the virus.

Team leader Dr Chil-Yong Kang told Ontario Business Report they infected the cells with a genetically modified HIV-1.

‘The infected cells produce lots of virus, which we collect, purify and inactivate so that the vaccine won’t cause AIDS in recipients, but will trigger immune responses.’

Clinical testing in the US began in March 2102, looking at men and women between the ages of 18 and 50.

Half the target group were given a placebo, while the others were given SAV001.

No adverse effects were found in the group given the vaccine.

With the first phase of trials over, the researchers are optimistic about the vaccine’s future.

The next trials will show whether SAV001 will provoke the right immune response, and its power to produce the right effect.

Sumagen, the South Korean biotech firm sponsoring the vaccine, said manufacturing as well as USFDA requirements could be possible hurdles.

But despite this, they were confident they were developing something that could save ‘millions of lives.’ If all goes well, it could be available in 2018.

Jung-Gee Cho, the CEO of Sumagen, said: ‘We are opening the gate to pharmaceutical companies, government, and charity organization for collaboration to be one step closer to the first commercialized HIV vaccine.’