HIV vaccines

AIDS and HIV

Main article: HIV and AIDS

2023

The only HIV vaccine being developed in the world has been found to be useless. Its development is stopped

In early December 2023, it became known that trials of an experimental HIV vaccine in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa were stopped ahead of schedule. Preliminary data showed that the drug is ineffective, and therefore its further development is impractical.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that HIV remains a major global public health concern. As of 2023, this virus has claimed approximately 40 million human lives worldwide. By the end of 2022, there were approximately 39 million HIV patients globally, two-thirds of whom (25.6 million) live in the African region. It was assumed that the new vaccine would help improve statistics, but in fact it actually turned out to be useless.

HIV vaccine trials in Africa halted

Trials of the drug began in December 2020 with the participation of 1,512 healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years at high risk of HIV infection: these are, in particular, sex workers, people with non-traditional sexual orientation, etc. Two vaccination regimens were tested: DNA-HIV-PT123 together with AIDSVAX B/E and DNA-HIV-PT123 in combination with CN54gp140. The control group received placebo.

It was assumed that the vaccine trials would be completed in 2024, but the researchers stopped the project ahead of schedule. According to Reuters, the independent committee for monitoring the data and safety of the program concluded that even if testing continues, it will not be possible to prove the effectiveness of the drug. The project also tested a new oral prophylactic agent designed to reduce the risk of possible HIV infection of healthy people: this work is ongoing as of the end of 2023.^[1]

Created a vaccine against HIV, which in the body destroys the virus at the initial stage of infection

In mid-February 2023, scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute talked about their HIV vaccine, which they said stops the virus from entering the body before it starts spreading rapidly there.

The HIV vaccine is directed to the inner surface of the vagina and rectum, called the mucous epithelium, where the virus is most likely to enter the body. The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies in these places. Like a bouncer checking fake IDs right at the entrance, or a sentinel along a fortress wall, antibodies have every chance of reacting quickly and blocking further progress of the virus.

HIV vaccine has been created that destroys the virus at the stage of infection

The vaccine is not aimed at any epithelial cell, but at the basal cells that make up the main layer of the epithelium. These basal cells are mother cells producing spare cells as needed in the vagina and rectum. In women, the epithelial lining forms and is rejected during each menstrual cycle, while the rectal lining remains more constant and new cells form as the old ones die.

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute vaccine, which was patented in 2023, is a live attenuated vaccine. This means that the vaccine is based on the complete HIV genetic code, but some parts are cut or removed so as not to cause harm. Live attenuated vaccines are used to treat a range of diseases such as smallpox and yellow fever, but they did not work for HIV until 2023.

According to Professor Marie-Claire Godouin, the vaccine reduces the genetic code in key places related to the functioning of the virus. In particular, it removes the ability of the vaccine virus to replicate and spread. The so-called "one-cycle" vaccine virus can enter cells but is then trapped without being able to exit. Goduin added that the cells signal the presence of a vaccine virus in them to the immune system, which produces antibodies. Antibodies do not attack cells with the vaccine, probably because the immune system recognizes that these cells are native.

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute was allocated $3.8 million for the further development of a promising HIV vaccine in early 2023. The next round of studies will involve a larger group of animals, which is necessary to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine before it can move on to human clinical trials. Dr. Goduin will collect more data on where the vaccine goes in the body and how it controls the infection. For February 2023, the vaccine is delivered directly to the mucous membrane in the form of liquid droplets. Dr. Marie-Claire Godouin will study other delivery methods that may prove more effective, which will be critical for the practical application of the vaccine for mass immunization in developing countries.^[2]

2022: Amedart launches production of drugs against cancer and HIV

The company "Amedart" in the special economic zone "Technopolice Moscow" has launched an import-substituting production of drugs, including for the treatment of HIV infection and oncological diseases. To create this production, the Industrial Development Fund provided the company with a preferential loan under the Development Projects program in the amount of 100 million rubles, which was announced on April 19, 2022. Read more here.

2021

Release of the first HIV prevention injectable

In mid-December 2021, the pharmaceutical company ViiV Healthcare introduced the first injection drug Apretude for the prevention of HIV infection. Apretude is intended for use six times a year, in contrast to the current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) regimen, which requires daily pill administration. Read more here.

Johnson & Johnson fails trials of its HIV vaccine in Africa

In August 2021, Johnson & Johnson halted trials of its HIV vaccine in southern Africa after the vaccine showed insufficient ability to protect people from infection.

A trial called Imbokodo showed that the vaccine was only 25% effective at preventing the disease.

Trials of a similar vaccine in Europe and America will continue.

The study shutdown is another setback in efforts to combat HIV, a treatable but potentially fatal disease that affects nearly 38 million people worldwide.

2020: Vektor announced 100 percent effectiveness of HIV vaccine

In December 2020, the state scientific center of virology and biotechnology "Vector," subordinate to Rospotrebnadzor, announced the results of the first phase of clinical trials of its vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is claimed that the drug, called "CombiHIVvak," was able to develop antibodies to the virus in all participants in the study. Read more here.

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