New HIV vaccine clinical trial hopes for breakthrough in combat against virus

Los angeles : HIV AIDS is one of most researched incurable disease in the world and now scientists are at the verge of a breakthrough.

According to scientists, a new vaccine against HIV which is to be tested in South Africa will be ‘the final nail in coffin’ for the deadly disease.

The study also known as HVTN 702 will aim to develop a vaccine. For the study, nearly 5,400 sexually active men and women aged between 18 and 35 at 15 sites across South Africa will be tried.

The study is said to be the largest and most advanced HIV vaccine clinical trial. It will take place in South Africa a country where more than 1,000 people on an average a day are infected with HIV.

Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. government’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released a statement saying, ‘If deployed alongside our current armory of proven HIV prevention tools, a safe and effective vaccine could be the final nail in the coffin for HIV. Even a moderately effective vaccine would significantly decrease the burden of HIV disease over time in countries and populations with high rates of HIV infection, such as South Africa.’

The study will be based on a 2009 trial in Thailand, which was nearly 31.2 percent effective at preventing HIV infection over the 3.5 years of follow-up after the vaccination.

 

Results of the vaccine study are expected in late 2020.