A key HIV vaccine trial that started in 2016 and involved
5,407 HIV-negative volunteers at 14 sites across South Africa has been
discontinued after it was found that the vaccine could not prevent infections
of human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
The trial, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases or NIAID, was stopped after an independent data and
safety monitoring board found the vaccine to be ineffective in preventing HIV.
According to NIAID, 129 HIV infections occurred among the
vaccine recipients and 123 HIV infections occurred among the placebo
recipients. The volunteers were sexually active men and women ages 18 to 35 who
were randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine injections or placebo
injections.
After the injections, there was no significant difference in
subsequent HIV infections among the volunteers in the vaccine group versus
placebo group.
"An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global
pandemic, and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does
not," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID, said in a statement on
Monday.
"Research continues on other approaches to a safe and
effective HIV vaccine, which I still believe can be achieved," he said.
The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an alliance of funders
and stakeholders that financially help in the search for an HIV vaccine
expressed "deep disappointment" that the study had been stopped.
"Whilst this is a significant setback for the field, we
need to continue the quest for a preventive vaccine. The rates of HIV
infection, which continue unabated in this region, should spur greater urgency,
global attention and investment to the quest," Linda-Gail Bekker,
immediate past president of the International AIDS Society and chair of the
Enterprise Advisory Group, said.
HIV, also known as Human immunodeficiency virus, is a
disease that causes AIDS and interferes with the body's ability to fight
infections.
The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected
blood, semen or vaginal fluids.
