An Experimental HIV Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Human Trial

The vaccine seems to have passed its first test. The vaccine candidate produced a type of immune response that scientists had been hoping for. The vaccine seemed to work well.

The vaccine candidate is called eOD-GT8 60mer. The eOD-GT8 60mer trial was sponsored by the IAVI. It is part of a large collaboration between scientists in the United States and Sweden. There were 48 healthy participants and 36 of them were given two doses of the vaccine eight weeks apart.

It is now possible to effectively manage HIV through lifelong therapy. The ability of the virus to change its structure inside the body makes it difficult for the immune system to recognize it. Most cases have not been able to sustain immunity to the virus. We know for a long time that some people can produce broadly neutralizing antibodies to the virus that can keep up with it. Scientists have been trying to find a vaccine that could create these antibodies.

The germline-targeting strategy is represented by eOD-GT 8 60mer. The first dose of vaccine attempts toprime a group of B cells into a state where they can make the antibodies. These cells are supposed to be reactivated by subsequent boosters, eventually leading to anti-HIV antibodies. The first part of this strategy appears to have worked in the new trial.

After the second dose, 35 out of 36 volunteers appeared to generate the broadly neutralizing antibodies, and this immune response only grew in strength.

The hope is that if you can induce this kind of immunity in people, you can protect them from some of these Viruses that we've had a very hard time designing Vaccines for that are effective This is an important step in the right direction.

The main purpose of Phase I trials is to test the safety of an experiment. There were no vaccine-related adverse reactions reported with the vaccine. Yesterday was World AIDS Day.

The study is only a proof of concept. It will take more research in humans to confirm the findings, and to show that broadly neutralizing antibodies can be reliably elicited through boosters. Since T cells are a crucial part of our immunity to germs, a vaccine that creates a broad T cell response to HIV is likely to fail. Scientists may one day be able to create a vaccine that protects against HIV and other diseases if the research continues.

Another Phase I trial of eOD-GT8 60mer is underway, and other vaccine candidates are also being tested in early human trials.