Press Releases

Sept. 24, 2009

A statement by Larry Corey, M.D., on the success of the HIV Vaccine Trial in Thailand

"The HIV vaccine field received exciting news today from an HIV vaccine trial conducted in Thailand, where the vaccines tested appeared to reduce the acquisition of HIV by about 30 percent. This milestone is the first sign from a study in humans that it is possible to develop an effective HIV vaccine. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network congratulates the consortium of partners that led the trial, especially the Thai Ministry of Health and the U.S. Military HIV Research Program.

"The trial used two vaccines (ALVACR HIV and AIDSVAXR B/E) that were matched to the strain of HIV that is predominant in Thailand (Clade E). The study had hypothesized that the vaccine would reduce HIV acquisition by 50 percent. The study results were statistically significant, although they did not reach the level that had been specified.

"While these results are not at the level we will need to effectively control the AIDS pandemic, it is an indication that scientists will reach the goal of developing an effective HIV vaccine. There are several other vaccine candidates in the research pipeline and today's encouraging results will provide renewed enthusiasm for human clinical trials, as well as additional HIV vaccine discovery.

"Moving forward requires more clinical trials in humans. While research in non-human primates is an important element of the overall research agenda, the fact is that non-human primates have not predicted the results we've seen in humans. Some studies in non-human primates that looked very promising turned out to be woefully ineffective in humans, while others that showed poor results in non-human primates have been surprising by their positive results in humans.

"Just two years ago, after an earlier vaccine study showed no efficacy, there were many naysayers who proclaimed that an HIV vaccine would never be found. Now we have a sign that we are on a path that will lead to success."

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Dr. Corey is the Co-Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the Principal Investigator of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. The Network is supported through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.