French scientists start HIV vaccine trials in humans

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According to The Connexion, after 13 years of work, a group of French researchers has been authorized to start the first trials of a vaccine against the HIV virus in humans.

According to the publication, the treatment proved to be very effective in animal experiments, and will now be tested on 48 HIV-positive volunteers. The drug targets a specific protein - TAT - that prevents the immune system from identifying and eliminating infected cells. Thus, instead of acting as a mere preventive vaccine, the drug will help the infected organism itself fight the disease.

Volunteers

(Image Source: Playback / APF)

Patients will receive three doses within one year of treatment, and the aim of the experiment is to determine the optimal dose to treat humans. In addition, the tests will involve the application of different doses of the drug and even placebos, and patients will be monitored once a month so that researchers can evaluate the results.

Scientists hope that if the new vaccine proves effective, HIV infection will be reduced and even blocked, allowing the current treatment - consisting of a daily drug cocktail that causes a number of side effects - to be replaced. Scientists warn that this is only the first phase of testing, so we should not be overly optimistic. The second stage is scheduled to begin within a year with 80 patients.