May 26, 2009
South African scientists are launching clinical trials that will study preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccine candidates. The vaccines, developed by the South Africa AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) and the University of Cape Town, will undergo human testing at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto and the Desmond Tutu HIV Center in Cape Town.
Elise Levendal, interim director of SAAVI, said South Africa is one of the few developing nations to design an HIV vaccine and see it progress to human clinical trials. The therapeutic approach attempts to stymie the progression of HIV if infection occurs during the trial, and tests whether the vaccine can boost the immune response in HIV-positive volunteers. In the preventive approach, HIV-negative volunteers will be studied to assess whether the vaccine can prevent infection.
Professor Glenda Gray, team leader at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital's Perinatal HIV Research Unit, said it is crucial that young people participate in the trials.
"We are able to understand HIV better because of these trials, and we can always improve on our designs," said Gray. "I am hopeful we will be able to corner this virus in the next few years."