"Most promising HIV vaccine in 20 years" being tested in Seattle

[Bluebear]

An experimental HIV vaccine, which scientists say is the most promising in 20 years, has had such good results recently that researchers are doubling the number of volunteers involved in the trials.

Scientists in Seattle and other cities in the international HIV Vaccine Trials Network have found much stronger immune responses than earlier tests showed. They've also discovered that the vaccine may protect against more types of HIV, giving it possible wider application than originally believed.

"We're really excited about it ... It's the one out in front," said Dr. Julie McElrath, network lab program director, head of the Seattle vaccine clinic and a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientist.

If encouraging results continue, much larger tests could be launched within five years. If it is shown to be truly effective against the virus, it could be widely available to the public in about seven years, McElrath said...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002576494&zsection_id=2002111777&slug=hivvaccine22m&date=20051022

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm sure the fundies will be rooting for it to fail

They love AIDS, though they'll never admit it.

They like to use AIDS to scare people about sex, to claim that what it does to gay people is somehow "God's retribution" for homosexuality and because of what it does to all those non-Christian folks in Africa.

[jmm]

4. Exactly just like with the HPV vaccine

The closer it comes to a reality the more we'll hear people claiming that it promotes promiscuity.

[hallc]

2. Well...

Considering HIV has only been around in the public eye for about 20 years, this would obviously be the most promising...

I hope this works...i really do. I have doubts though - HIV is a smart virus...i have a feeling we will be dealing with it for a very long time before we have the technology to find a vaccine.

[silverweb]

3. Hmmm...

The Christofascists are trying to block the vaccine against HPV because they feel it will "encourage" women to engage in premarital and/or extramarital sex.

Isn't it therefore logical to assume that they'll try to block this vaccine against HIV because it will "encourage" homosexuality? (They can't seem to wrap their minds around the fact that monogamous heterosexuals and children get HIV, as well.)

Hopefully, rational minds will prevail.

[pinto]

5. Hopeful news. Given that T cell response does a good job in the "acute"

phase of HIV, in most people - it would seem to follow that an enhanced response may be capable of blocking long term infection and subsequent disease progression.

Link to the HIV Vaccine Trials Network is here:

http://www.hvtn.org/

[bigwillq]

6. ! (nt)