New HIV Vaccine Shows Promising Results

Researchers and HIV/AIDS activists are have been encouraged by the results of an experimental HIV vaccine. According to a Wall Street Journal/Associated Press report: "For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus." The vaccine reduced the risk of HIV infection by more than 31%. While this result may not seem overwhelming, it is a significant moment in the often frustrating race to find a vaccine for HIV. Previous efforts have resulted in failure after failure. One such effort, Merck's experimental Phase II vaccine trial which began in late 2004 and involved HIV-negative volunteers was stopped after the experimental vaccine failed to prevent HIV infection in participants or prove effective in delaying the progression of the virus to AIDS. As a result, several vaccine trials were being postponed or modified following the abrupt halt of Merck's vaccine trial. As a result of so many recent failures, many researchers had begun to feel that a vaccine might not be possible and that resources should be redirected to new techniques to prevent HIV infection such as microbicides and cheaper versions of the female condom.

However this new HIV vaccine trail, involving 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, might just provide new hope. The new vaccine combined two previously ineffective ones: the first to rouse the immune system to launch an attack on the virus and the other to strengthen the response. Researchers caution that we are still a long way away from implementation of widespread immunization of any type of vaccine. However, for the first time, scientists and epidemiologists are expressing optimism that a HIV vaccine is possible.

Every day, 7,500 people world-wide are newly infected with HIV and two million died of AIDS in 2007 , according to the U.N. agency UNAIDS.