Greetings, Will the vaccine being developed by VAXGEN help people who are HIV positive? If not, what is being done for people who are positive with regards to theraputic vaccines

Thanks NYC

The original VAXGEN construct, recombinant envelope protein, has not shown any promise as a therapeutic vaccine.

There is however a lot of interest in some quarters still for therapeutic vaccines. Merck, who is developing DNA vaccines as preventive vaccines, will devote a lot of resources to exploring their technology for therapeutic vaccines. Several of the vectored vaccines (avipox, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus based) will also be explored as therapeutic vaccines in parallel with the preventive attempts.

Think about it from the point of view of a big Pharma company. If they develop the ultimate vaccine for prevention, they will get lots of fame and glory, but will have to either give away the vaccine to much of the world or sell the rights to non profit agencies or governments. Not much to keep the shareholders happy relative to a new Viagra. However, a therapeutic vaccine would be used in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia were infected persons have insurance coverage, and would pay to have something that decreased or eliminated the need to take antiretrovirals. So, the impetus is for them to pursue parallel development. Let's wish them luck and godspeed (whatever the motivation)

ATP