January 19, 2023 – The only HIV vaccine nearing completion of testing trials just isn’t effective in stopping HIV, officials said Wednesday.
The vaccine has been in development since 2019 and has been administered to three,900 study participants through October 2022, but data show it doesn’t protect against HIV in comparison with a placebo, the developer said. Janssen Pharmaceutical.
Experts consider that due to failure, no other potential vaccine will likely be in sight for the following three to 5 years. The New York Times reported.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, MSNBCand noted that other areas of HIV treatment research are promising. “I don't think we should give up on HIV vaccination.”
During the study, which evaluated the experimental treatment in men who’ve sex with men or with transgender people, no safety concerns in regards to the vaccine were identified.
There is not any cure for HIV, however the disease will be controlled with existing treatments. HIV attacks the body's immune system and destroys white blood cells, increasing the chance of other infections. According to UNAIDS.