Great promises have been so far showed by a latest AIDS vaccine as it protected half of a group of rhesus monkeys against the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a virus similar to HIV but only becomes the plight of monkeys.

The drug has been developed by the scientists of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The vaccine was used in monkeys with the help of the common cold virus, or adenovirus 26, to prime their immune systems. A second vaccine was introduced after antibodies were developed. The second one was containing a purified envelope or surface protein of HIV.

The results were exciting as 50% of the monkeys were completely protected by the two-step vaccination method against SIV.

The results are encouraging as can be simulated for human beings, said Dr. Dan Barouch, lead author of the study and director of the BIDMC’s Center for Virology and Vaccine Research.

“These new findings show that the envelope protein boost following the viral vector priming increases the magnitude and functionality of antibody responses and improves protection”, said Barouch.

It would be a major accomplishment for medical science if the drug can save lives of even 50% of the people who are exposed to the virus, said Dr. Mary Marovich, director for the vaccine research program of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The drug has become a potential candidate to end the epidemic when used in combination with other measures.