SAfrica launches biggest AIDS vaccine trial

Johannesburg, Feb 9: South Africa, burdened with one of theworld's major HIV/AIDS epidemics has unveiled plans for its biggestAIDS vaccine trial.

The government-backed South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative(SAAVI) said the Phambili trial would be conducted on 3,000 HIVnegative people aged between 18 and 35.

It will test whether the MRKAd5 HIV-1 vaccine developed by drugfirm Merck&Co. either prevents HIV infection orlowers HIV levels in those who become infected, SAAVI said in astatement yesterday.

It will also measure the effectiveness of the drug on the C strainof HIV prevalent in South Africa, whose population of 45 million has anHIV infection rate of around one in nine.

The vaccine was developed for the B strain and has undergone testing elsewhere in Africa, the Americas and Australia.

''This test vaccine is one of the most promising currentlyavailable internationally,'' said Professor Anthony MBewu, president ofthe state-funded Medical Research Council.

''South Africa's conduct of this trial is a significant andexciting step forward in our search for a successful vaccine againstHIV/AIDS.''

Reuters>