Scientists are increasingly optimistic that an AIDS vaccine will be available in the next six to 10 years, although the first one may not be 100 percent effective, researchers said today.
And because the design of any ultimately successful vaccine is not yet known, the cost could vary from a few pennies per dose to £100 or more, affecting the vaccine's take-up in the developing countries that are worst hit by AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The sixth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific was told that results from the most promising trial so far could be available as early as next month. "There's never been more optimism than there is now that an HIV vaccine can be identified," said Ms Margaret Johnston, assistant director for AIDS vaccines at the US National Institutes of Health. "There are many designs that have proven highly successful in animal models and we have a vibrant pipeline of products that are now being tested," she said on the second of a five-day conference.
Ms Johnston said the leading vaccine candidate, VaxGen AIDSVAX is in the final Phase 3 stage of clinical testing and interim results from its North American testing could be available as early as next month.
The protein agent, which is also being tested in Thailand and the Netherlands, works by inducing antibodies to help repel the HIV virus.