Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Wednesday December 20, 2000
Andrew England, Associated Press Writer
Trials of the vaccine, developed jointly by British and Kenyan scientists, will not begin until January or February, Health Minister Sam Ongeri said. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, which has sponsored the research, had planned to announce the start of trials Wednesday.
Scientists from Britain's Medical Research Council, Oxford University and the University of Nairobi have been collaborating for more than four years on two vaccines they hope will immunize people against the HIV virus (news - web sites) that causes AIDS.
They are basing much of their research on a group of Nairobi prostitutes who appear to be immune to the deadly disease.
The first vaccine, known as the DNA vaccine, has already been tested on primates and is now being tested on 15 human volunteers in England. Trials of the second vaccine, known as the MVA vaccine, were to begin in Britain in January, said Andrew McMichael of the Medical Research Council.
None of the volunteers have displayed adverse affects from the DNA vaccine, said McMichael, one of the 15 being tested. In primates, the two vaccines combined have created "a very strong immune response," he noted.
But it will take three to five years before it is known whether vaccines actually work on humans, and several more for it to reach the general population, McMichael said.
"There is tremendous urgency in getting the vaccine trials to go forward ... it is unfortunate that the vaccine trial will proceed slowly," he said. "We have every reason to believe they will be safe, but have to look carefully before we give the vaccine to large numbers of people." AIDS has had a devastating impact on Africa. In Kenya, more than 2 million people have HIV and 500 more are infected every day.
In nine African countries, life expectancy has fallen by 20 years, and 95 percent of the 15,000 new cases of infection daily around the world are in developing countries, said Seth Berkley, president of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.
001220
AP001216
Copyright © 2000 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .