Well, it took 25 years and a bazillion dollars to get to this point but it's finally here:
For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a watershed event in the deadly epidemic and a surprising result.
The study tested the combo in HIV-negative Thai men and women ages 18 to 30 at average risk of becoming infected. Half received four "priming" doses of ALVAC and two "boost" doses of AIDSVAX over six months. The others received dummy shots. No one knew who got what until the study ended.
Results: New infections occurred in 51 of the 8,197 given vaccine and in 74 of the 8,198 who received dummy shots. That worked out to a 31 percent lower risk of infection for the vaccine group.
"It gives me cautious optimism about the possibility of improving this result" and developing a more effective AIDS vaccine, Fauci said...
It is unclear whether vaccine makers will seek to license the two-vaccine combo in Thailand. Before the trial began, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said other studies would be needed before the vaccine could be considered for U.S. licensing.
3 comments:
I hope this leads to real success. Testing the vaccine must be almost impossible.
The study tested the combo in HIV-negative Thai men and women ages 18 to 30 at average risk of becoming infected. Half received four "priming" doses of ALVAC and two "boost" doses of AIDSVAX over six months. The others received dummy shots. No one knew who got what until the study ended.
All were given condoms, counseling and treatment for any sexually transmitted infections, and were tested every six months for HIV. Any who became infected were given free treatment with antiviral medicines.
Participants were followed for three years after vaccination ended.
Results: New infections occurred in 51 of the 8,197 given vaccine and in 74 of the 8,198 who received dummy shots. That worked out to a 31 percent lower risk of infection for the vaccine group.
Why am I not so encoraged by those numbers? 23 less patients got it in a sample of 18,000? Is this really progress? Could this happen in a random sample? What is the statistical probablity?
I don't see much here to rejoice.
We spend a lot on AIDs with little benefit. We could have spent that money on heart disease or diabetes and those things aflict far more American taxpayers.
I would love to see AIDs go away, just like cancer and everything else. I question if the money has been well spent.
Someone told me that we live in a world of scarce resources.
The results are statistically significant but I agree that the key phrase, as Fauci stated, is "cautious optimism."
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