Private MD News

Phase 1 successful in HIV vaccine testing

Category: Infectious Diseases

The first phase of a trial for a vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus has proven successful, according to an announcement from Sumagen Canada Inc. and Western University of Ontario earlier this week. The group now plans to move on to Phase 2 and Phase 3 of testing.

Vaccine
The vaccine created by the researchers targets specific parts of the HIV molecule. Lab tests revealed that antibodies to the p24 capsid antigen, one of the structural proteins of HIV molecules, increased 64-fold in some patients who participated in the clinical trial. Running from March 2012 and completed in August 2013, the trial tracked asymptomatic men and women diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease between the ages of 18 and 50 and compared results of people given the vaccine to a placebo group.

The encouraging results have given hope to some who were positive for HIV from STD testing. Jung-Gee Cho, the CEO of Sumagen Co. Ltd, commented further in a press release about the next steps for the vaccine.

"We are now prepared to take the next steps towards Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials. We are opening the gate to pharmaceutical companies, government, and charity organization for collaboration to be one step closer to the first commercialized HIV vaccine," he stated.

HIV
Millions of people around the world have been diagnosed with HIV and, while treatments exist, there is no cure. Eventually, the disease can progress into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which leaves the immune system weakened. People diagnosed with HIV/AIDS die from infections, viruses and other diseases that their reduced immune systems make them vulnerable to.

Early symptoms of HIV include fever and flu-like symptoms that develop within a few weeks of infection. It can also cause muscle pains, headaches, diarrhea and other symptoms that can go unnoticed. However, HIV is most active in the blood during this stage, and therefore can spread the most easily, according to the Mayo Clinic.

For people who want to know what their STD status is, a lab test online can be the answer. A test online can supply discreet answers to questions about HIV status as well as other common STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis.