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SA Launches HIV Vaccine Trial
Historical Vaccine Trial Underway In South Africa.
Last Updated: 01 December 2016
In breaking news, it was announced today, on World Aids Day, that South Africa is making history by launching a trial of the only vaccine in the world proven to offer some protection against HIV. The new vaccine against HIV, if successful, could put the disease to bed.
The trial known as HVTN702, intends to have 5 400 people sign up at 15 trial sites countrywide. The HIV vaccine is a modified version of a Thai vaccine that presented 31% protection to participants and it is the only vaccine that has had any effect on HIV to date. Researchers have been working for seven years to assess the vaccine in a country with a high HIV rate, to find out if it is strong enough to hold out.
South Africa has the highest profile HIV epidemic in the world, with an estimated 7-million people living with HIV in 2015. UNAIDS – leading advocate for global action against HIV/Aids - estimates that 330 000 new infections occurred in South Africa last year, mainly in females.
The HVTN 702 study is expected to establish whether a trial vaccine treatment safely prevents HIV infections among South African adults.
The task team heading the project is headed up by Dr Glenda Gray, the Protocol Chair of the HVTN702 study. Dr Gray, an Aids activist, is amongst the local and international HIV researchers hoping for the best results. The President of the South African Medical Research Council, Dr Gray, is not only involved in the HVTN 702 vaccine trial, but also the Antibody Mediated Prevention study – both of which is currently underway.
Image Credit: Tamir Leshem
Co-chairing the protocol are Linda-Gail Bekker, Fatima Laher and Mookho Malahleha. Dr Bekker is the deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town and Chief operating officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in Cape Town. Dr Laher is the deputy director of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital whilst Dr Malahlela is the deputy director of Setshaba Research Centre in Sashanguve, South Africa.HVTN100 and HVTN702 forms part of a larger HIV vaccine research endeavor led by the Pox Protein Public-Private Partnership, or P5. P5 members include NIAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the South African Medical Research Council, HVTN, Sanofi Pasteur, GSK and the U.S Military HIV Research Programme.
HOW THE TRIAL WILL WORK
Half of the participants will be vaccinated and the other half will get a placebo, but neither the scientists nor the participants will know who is getting the vaccine. Those being vaccinated will have to receive the injection five times during the first 12-months and will have to follow up with doctors for at least two years after that.Their progress will be documented throughout the process.
According to Doctor Danielle Crida, principal investigator at the Emavendleni Clinical Research Centre in Cape Town, results are only expected in 2021.
By Garth Prins
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