HIV vaccine trial shows promising results

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National AIDS Control Orgainsation (NACO) and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) said that the phase-1 of clinical trials of the AIDS vaccine has shown that it has suitable levels of safety and was well tolerated. The drug has completed the phase successfully.

The three organizations further said that the response levels of volunteers suggested that the vaccine, whose trail was relied on a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) based AIDS vaccine candidate (TBC-M4), holds promise to fight the virus effectively.

The two doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) were used on trial basis. 82% of the volunteers were given a low dose and 100% of the volunteers were given high dose. They registered immune responses to the vaccine after three injections were given.

The candidates who were given high dose have been measured to have shown immunity which is higher than the majority of AIDS vaccines till date. It was found that the strength and the diversity of resistance power are different.

If the vaccine is utilized with other candidate AIDS vaccine, the resistance power might rise to a further level.

S.K. Bhattacharya, the additional director general of ICMR said, “We are pleased to see that the MVA-based candidate tested in Chennai was safe and showed promising initial immune responses. We do not know whether these observed responses will ultimately translate into an effective vaccine ... but hope to learn more through further testing.”

In January 2006 phase-1 of the clinical trial was started at the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), an ICMR institute in Chennai and trail was finished in January 2008.

In Chennai the trial was conducted under the aegis of a MoU between the central government through ICMR and NACO and IAVI. YRG CARE, which was collaborated with TRC, helped increase the community during the trial of the phase I.

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