A vaccine against HIV –
the deadly virus responsible for 35,000
deaths worldwide – looked a bit more
viable this week as researchers from
Canada hailed an early trial of a vaccine for
the infection a major success. Researchers
at the University of Western Ontario in a
Phase I study of the HIV-1 vaccine (SAV001-
H), the first stage of human testing of a
drug, found the vaccine produced no
adverse effects in all patients.
This particular vaccine, developed by Dr.
Chil-Yong Kang and his team at the
University’s Schulich School of Medicine &
Dentistry with the support of Sumagen
Canada, is especially unique because it is
the first and only preventative HIV vaccine
based on a genetically modified killed
whole virus – a similar technique used for
vaccines for polio, influenza and rabies,
among others.
“We infect the cells with a genetically
modified HIV-1″, Kang said in an interview
with Ontario Business Report.
“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.”
One of the key benefits of genetically
engineering the vaccine is it is safer and
can be produced in large quantities, which
will be a vital component if the vaccine is to
have future success. From March 2012 to
August 2013 the vaccine was tested for
safety in humans; a major hurdle the
vaccine needed to overcome in order to
move on to more advanced testing phases.
The vaccine and a placebo was given to
HIV-infected, asymptomatic men and
women and after monitoring the patients
for 52 weeks no adverse side effects were
reported. However, the vaccine is still in
very early stages of development. It will
now have to go on to Phase II testing,
which will measure the actual effectiveness
of the vaccine in prompting immune
response, and then further Phase III
testing, before it can ever become a viable
treatment prospect.
Nevertheless, it is so far proving more
successful than other vaccines. Since HIV
was characterised in 1983 there have been
numerous trials through pharmaceutical
companies and academic institutions
around the world to develop vaccines; but
to date there is not a successful on
produced. However, in the last decade
scientists’ clinical work has resulted in
some major breakthroughs in the treatment
of HIV.
In March French researchers said that if
caught early and treated aggressively,
antiviral drugs could functionally cure
about one in 10 infected. The claim was
made after the researchers analysed 14
people who stopped therapy, but have
since shown no signs of the virus resurging.
Later, in July, researchers announced at the
International Aids Society Conference that
two HIV-positive patients had been taken
off their anti-retroviral drugs after bone
marrow transplants seemed to clear the
virus from their bodies, although they
stressed it was too early to say if they were
cured.
These are all early but hugely encouraging
studies that show the fight against HIV is
making progress. Could we see the spread
of HIV be diminished by the next
generation? It may be a possibility.
In April the Department of Health launched
a campaign along with the Terrence Higgins
Trust called “It Starts With Me” to get
people tested for HIV earlier. They said due
to the effectives of modern drug treatment,
which reduces the virus in the body to
undetectable levels, it is much harder to
pass it on. But testing in the first instance
is the key to ending the spread of the virus.
At its launch Sir Nick Partridge, chief
executive at the Terrence Higgins Trust,
also involved in the campaign, told the
BBC: “While a cure or vaccine for HIV
remains stubbornly out of reach, what
many people don’t realise is that medical
advances mean it is now within our grasp
to stop the virus in its tracks.”
the deadly virus responsible for 35,000
deaths worldwide – looked a bit more
viable this week as researchers from
Canada hailed an early trial of a vaccine for
the infection a major success. Researchers
at the University of Western Ontario in a
Phase I study of the HIV-1 vaccine (SAV001-
H), the first stage of human testing of a
drug, found the vaccine produced no
adverse effects in all patients.
This particular vaccine, developed by Dr.
Chil-Yong Kang and his team at the
University’s Schulich School of Medicine &
Dentistry with the support of Sumagen
Canada, is especially unique because it is
the first and only preventative HIV vaccine
based on a genetically modified killed
whole virus – a similar technique used for
vaccines for polio, influenza and rabies,
among others.
“We infect the cells with a genetically
modified HIV-1″, Kang said in an interview
with Ontario Business Report.
“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.”
One of the key benefits of genetically
engineering the vaccine is it is safer and
can be produced in large quantities, which
will be a vital component if the vaccine is to
have future success. From March 2012 to
August 2013 the vaccine was tested for
safety in humans; a major hurdle the
vaccine needed to overcome in order to
move on to more advanced testing phases.
The vaccine and a placebo was given to
HIV-infected, asymptomatic men and
women and after monitoring the patients
for 52 weeks no adverse side effects were
reported. However, the vaccine is still in
very early stages of development. It will
now have to go on to Phase II testing,
which will measure the actual effectiveness
of the vaccine in prompting immune
response, and then further Phase III
testing, before it can ever become a viable
treatment prospect.
Nevertheless, it is so far proving more
successful than other vaccines. Since HIV
was characterised in 1983 there have been
numerous trials through pharmaceutical
companies and academic institutions
around the world to develop vaccines; but
to date there is not a successful on
produced. However, in the last decade
scientists’ clinical work has resulted in
some major breakthroughs in the treatment
of HIV.
In March French researchers said that if
caught early and treated aggressively,
antiviral drugs could functionally cure
about one in 10 infected. The claim was
made after the researchers analysed 14
people who stopped therapy, but have
since shown no signs of the virus resurging.
Later, in July, researchers announced at the
International Aids Society Conference that
two HIV-positive patients had been taken
off their anti-retroviral drugs after bone
marrow transplants seemed to clear the
virus from their bodies, although they
stressed it was too early to say if they were
cured.
These are all early but hugely encouraging
studies that show the fight against HIV is
making progress. Could we see the spread
of HIV be diminished by the next
generation? It may be a possibility.
In April the Department of Health launched
a campaign along with the Terrence Higgins
Trust called “It Starts With Me” to get
people tested for HIV earlier. They said due
to the effectives of modern drug treatment,
which reduces the virus in the body to
undetectable levels, it is much harder to
pass it on. But testing in the first instance
is the key to ending the spread of the virus.
At its launch Sir Nick Partridge, chief
executive at the Terrence Higgins Trust,
also involved in the campaign, told the
BBC: “While a cure or vaccine for HIV
remains stubbornly out of reach, what
many people don’t realise is that medical
advances mean it is now within our grasp
to stop the virus in its tracks.”
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