Human trials begin for HIV vaccine

The first ever African-developed HIV vaccine is currently undergoing human clinical trials in South Africa.

The South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) has begun trials of two potential vaccines -” SAAVI MVA-C and SAAVI DNA-C2 -” on a cohort of 36 healthy volunteers.

Development of these vaccines is the culmination of eight years of research and development which has involved scientists across South Africa and globally, said the president of the South African Medical Research Council, Professor Anthony Mbeu.

The vaccines have shown promising results in animal testing, according to researchers.

An effective vaccine against HIV/AIDS remains a top global health priority and it is our hope that the evaluation of these vaccines in clinical trial will provide some important answers that will bring us closer towards this goal, said the project’s leader of vaccine development, Professor Anna-Lise Williamson.